As Eid fitr celebration draws closer, tailors in Jos have intensified efforts to meet up with the promises made to their customers.
Benue/Plateau Trust correspondent, who went round the city, reports that tailors in various areas were seen sewing clothes for their customers.
Malam Nura Alhasan, a renowned tailor with more than 20 years of experience, told our correspondent that whenever Eid celebration draws closer, work would often be too much for them because many people were hoping to wear new clothes, especially children.
“Days to Sallah, we are often overwhelmed with lots of work to do. It is not always easy because everyone is looking forward to collecting their clothes to wear for the celebration. There are lots of expectations by the customers.”
Malam Nura however said despite their efforts to satisfy the customers, some usually criticise them for not meeting their target.
He said whenever that happens, they try to calm down the customers in order to maintain the relationship. “We don’t fight with customers because of their unguarded utterances.
“People are different. Some understand the situation while some don’t. What is surprising is that those that often criticise you bring their clothes at very late hours, beg you to collect but if you fail to meet up, they would abuse you. But this has become part of us,” he added.
Malam Nura said he always tries to avoid having such problems with his customers by rejecting late jobs. “I work on first-come-first-serve basis. No matter your personality, you must follow the queue”.
Meanwhile, prices of perishable items such as tomatoes, pepper and onion have risen in some markets in Jos.
Benue/Plateau Trust correspondent who visited Farin Gada Market where perishable goods are sold reports that prices of the items have risen since Monday.
Ibrahim Hassan, a tomato seller in the market, told our correspondent that a basket of tomatoes which was sold at N2, 500 on Tuesday is now sold at N3,500, and a bag of pepper previously sold at N7, 000 is now N11,000.
He said, “The prices started rising from the beginning of this week. Last week, tomato was not as expensive as this week because the demand for it was low. But as the Sallah celebration approaches, the demand is beginning to rise and that is why the price is also rising.”
An onion seller in the market, Musa Isa, also said the situation was the same with the onion. “Last week, a bag of onion was sold at N7,000 but today (Thursday), the price has risen due the demand of the item in the market.’’