Following the commencement of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, traders in Kano state have continued to complain poor patronage by customers.
Some of the traders who spoke to News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday in Kano blamed the predicament on the poor purchasing power of customers
A food items dealer, Tanko Idris, said sales have drastically fallen short this year when compared to previous years.
Idris stated that despite the fact that some commodities, especially consumables, usually skyrocket during the Ramadan fasting period, people still buy goods.
A perishable items dealer, Saminu Dauda, lamented that business was not moving as much as it used to be. Pointing out that the current economic downtown in the country contributed to the situation.
A vegetable seller, Sani Ali, also complained that the situation was strange compared to what he had seen in the market whenever Ramadan was starting.
Ali noted that many customers complained of a scarcity of funds due to the economic hardship.
A buyer, Nura Baba, lamented of the high cost of rice, millet, flour, and sugar, which, he said, have been disturbing him as the fasting period approaches.
“For example, with sugar selling at more than N5,5000 per measure, rice costing more than N3,500 per measure, millet being sold at N1,800 per slot, and crate of egg going for N3,300, how do they want us to feed during the Ramadan period?” he questioned.
He appealed to dealers and retailers of food items in the state to “drastically reduce their prices in the spirit of the Holy month.”