Wristwatch merchants and repairers in Birnin Kebbi are lamenting the fall in their business following the advent of mobile phones which has made many people to abandon wearing wristwatches.
A Caliphate Trust survey showed that wearing of wristwatch is now left to only those with an irresistible passion for wearing one.
Speaking to our correspondent, a former wristwatch seller in Birnin Kebbi, Bashir Usman, said most of the customers that used to patronise his shop had stopped doing so.
Bashir, who was in the business for over 15 years, said when mobile phones were introduced into the Nigerian market, there was no sign of a threat to their business as only a few people could afford one.
He, however, said things have changed now as only those that have passion for the timepieces, who are mostly the few highly placed in the society, now patronise them.
“It is only the high placed civil servants and politicians and perhaps those preparing for marriage that now buy wristwatches,” he said.
Low patronage is not only limited to the wrist watch sellers as the repairers are also affected.
Wristwatch repairers, who in the past made comfortable earning for a living are now forced to live in penury because of lack of patronage.
Mallam Ahmad Mallam, who has been a wristwatch repairer for many years said his business had blossomed.
He said things, however, changed for the worse as people no longer wore wristwatches because they use their phone to know the time.
He added that because of loss of customers, he was forced to abandon the job and look for an alternative means to sustain himself and his family.
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