Food, meat, and poultry sellers in Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun state, are expressing deep concerns over low patronage during the Easter festive period.
Reports from Saving Point Media, which visited major markets in Abeokuta, indicate a significant decline in customers purchasing local food items despite the ongoing festive season.
Market sellers interviewed by Saving Point Media correspondents noted a noticeable drop in patronage, attributing it initially to the ongoing Ramadan fasting period.
However, unlike previous years where there was still some level of patronage during Easter, this year has been particularly slow, with Christian customers reluctant to visit the market to buy essentials for their celebrations.
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According to some market sellers, those who do come to buy items often engage in extensive price negotiations and ultimately leave without making any purchases, leaving the sellers without profit.
Buyers at the market cited economic hardship as a major reason for their reluctance to purchase goods, with high food prices discouraging many from participating in Easter celebrations.
Some individuals, speaking anonymously, admitted that they had instructed their children to forego Easter celebrations in order to prioritize basic needs such as food and school fees.
Despite the recent decrease in the value of the dollar in Nigeria, the prices of food items and other products have remained high since the period of the dollar’s rise against the naira.
While some state governments have attempted to alleviate hardship by distributing food items during the festive period, research suggests that only a small fraction of the population has benefited from these palliatives.
Local sellers are appealing to President Hammed Tinubu to address the economic challenges, urging market sellers to lower commodity prices in response to the decline in the value of the dollar against the naira.
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