Sallah: Consumers lament hike in prices, traders complain of low patronage

With just a few days left to the end of Ramadan and the celebration of Id-El-Fitri few days away, some Muslim faithful have been seen by our reporters in different markets of the Federal Capital Territory (F.CT) shopping. In Kubwa market, one of our reporters observed that people were trying to shop for the items […]

With just a few days left to the end of Ramadan and the celebration of Id-El-Fitri few days away, some Muslim faithful have been seen by our reporters in different markets of the Federal Capital Territory (F.CT) shopping.
In Kubwa market, one of our reporters observed that people were trying to shop for the items that would be used during the celebration.
Mrs Mariam Adamu said the prices of goods have increased greatly. “When I came to the market on Monday, 25kg bag of rice was sold for N10, 000 but today it has gone up to N12, 000. The way things are just increasing now, it might get to a point where some of these food items will be only for the rich”, the mother of three lamented.
A trader who gave his name as Musa said the reason why prices of goods were high was because of the economic situation of the country and high cost of transportation of goods. Speaking in Hausa, he said “I used to sell 25kg bag of rice for N8, 000 to N9, 500 but as it is now, I am finding it difficult to sell any because people hardly buy because of the increase in price,” Musa said.
Fatima Baba, an undergraduate also complained about the high prices of goods “A lot of things are on the high side now: clothes, food, household items in general. I went to see a friend of mine some days ago who had a new supply of clothes to sell. I chose some to buy but I was alarmed when I heard the prices. I just hope a lot of people would be able to celebrate this holiday, considering the high prices of goods,” Baba said.
One Ahmed Suleiman, a resident of Arab road, Kubwa, told one of our reporters that this was the first time he had stayed so long without being able to buy Sallah clothes for his children. “I hope I would be able to get some clothes for my children because things are difficult for us; there is no money anywhere,” the father of five laments.
Market Survey at Utako market by Daily Trust shows that a medium sized basket (dustbin basket) that was previously sold for N4,000 during the tomato scarcity is now sold for between N2,000- N2,500 while the big basket which was sold for N25,000 now sells for N15,000 depending on the type of tomatoes.
Kassim Ibrahim, a tomato seller at the market told Daily Trust that the paint rubber is sold for about N600, depending on the customer’s bargaining power while the small plate is sold from N250 and above.
 At the same market, the prices of bags of rice vary depending on the type and quantity. While the 50 kg bag ranges from between N17, 000 to N19, 500, the 25 Kg bags were sold for N12, 000 while other smaller bags cost between N8,000 to N6,000.
A kilo of beef is sold for N1,500 while locally bred chicken is sold for between N1,500 to N2,000 while the agric chicken is sold from N1,500 to N1,000.
However, traders selling clothes in the market complained of low patronage.
Mallam Ishaq who sells ladies’ wares said the patronage has been really appalling as a result of the economic situation in the country.  This Sallah, most households are not bothering themselves to sew Sallah clothes for the kids,” Ishaq said.
True to his words, Shamsiyya Usman, a mother of four said she would only get food items because there is not enough finance to buy clothes for children  this festive period.
A woman who was seen shopping at the Wuse Market shared her experience with Daily Trust.
“The prices of goods have increased.   A dustbin basket of tomatoes is N3, 000 and I am pricing two baskets for N5, 000. I bought half basket of tatashe for N1,500 last Saturday, now they are selling for 2,300. I don’t know why the price is like this.  May be because of the Sallah,” Hauwa Yusuf said
She was however glad about the price of chicken. “I bought chicken for N1,400. I bought eight local chickens for N11,500. The price of chicken is okay,” she said excitedly.
Similarly, one Hajiya Hassana Sadiq said she bought 20 locally bred chickens for N1,200 each.
Alhaji Yerima Murtala who sells wrapper at the Wuse market said the patronage for clothes was low. “We sell hollandaise for N22,000 and the super wax is 31,000. We have laces for N120, 000, N100, 000, N60,000, N50,000, N20,000 depending on what you can afford but people are not buying much,” Murtala said.
Indeed, at the market very few women were seen buying wrappers. However, others were lurking around their tailors to deliver their clothes before Sallah day.