Lagos Traders have yet to feel the impact of the holiday season, as patronage has been quite low.
In contrast to expectations that residents would begin stocking up for the celebration well in advance, traders at Oja Oba market, Abule Egba, who spoke to the Sunday Tribune, stated that while they had anticipated low patronage due to the economy, they still believe that the situation could change.
“It’s only a few days until Christmas, but I haven’t felt the spirit of the season,” Mrs Yemi Oluleye, an Oja Oba trader, said.
She mentioned that she had stocked up her store, albeit not as much as she would have liked, in anticipation of big sales, but that things had not improved significantly.
She went on to say that the majority of people in the market were not there to buy goods, but rather to inquire about them.
Concerning the prices of major foodstuffs, she stated that they were still the same as last month, despite price increases in some foodstuffs that are not unrelated to the upcoming festive season. Mrs Oluleye explained that the price of beans is gradually increasing, while the price of rice remains constant at N25,000-N27,000.
Another trader, simply identified as Abu, stated that, while the market appears to be active, the majority of perceived shoppers were window shopping.
“I guess people want to know what the market is saying in terms of prices so that they can make their budget,” he said, adding that he expects people to start stocking up for the holiday on Wednesday.
