How election travels affected vegetables sales in Lafia

Our correspondent who went round the town during the period discovered that the number of buyers reduced drastically because some residents in the state capital relocated during the period.The development affected sales at the Lafia Central Market, as well as the tomato market, all within the state capital.Daily Trust visited both markets, and spoke to […]

Our correspondent who went round the town during the period discovered that the number of buyers reduced drastically because some residents in the state capital relocated during the period.
The development affected sales at the Lafia Central Market, as well as the tomato market, all within the state capital.
Daily Trust visited both markets, and spoke to dealers who complained that sales dropped drastically, affecting mostly perishables during the period.
 “There are no buyers. People are not coming to the market. For two days now, we spend long hours in the market without sales,” Shittu Jibrin, a vegetable dealer said at the Lafia Central Market, lamenting the situation during election period.
Jibrin, who is also the chairman, Vegetable Dealers Association at the market said the situation compelled dealers to slash prices so as to sell out and avoid losing their perishable wares. He said onions which went for between N9,000 and N11,000 for 25kg bag, was sold at less than N9,000.
He added that tomatoes which went for between N2,500 and N3,000 a basket, and Jos pepper which went for between N5,500 to N6,500, were sold below the prices because dealers are forced to entice buyers.
Same is the problem with other agricultural produce dealers. Yahaya Maiwake, a dealer in beans and local rice said the travels for elections affected sales, but he insisted that the association has resolved that rather than sell at a loss, dealers should store the stuff.