Many traders in Nguru, Yobe State, who specialise in the sale of women’s fashion accessories, are lamenting a tun of fortune as they record low customer patronage as the sallah festivities approach.
Some of them who spoke to Kanem Trust attributed the situation to the current lockdown imposed by the government to stem the spread of COVID-19 in the state.
Kanem Trust reports that the traders enjoy huge patronage especially among the women, during festive seasons.
Mohammed Yazo who engages in the trade said he would not blame the government for his predicament as it took the action to save people’s lives.
“ I don’t see government at fault since we were told the virus is transferred from human to human as a result of interactions. So I support government’s decision for that and pray for God’s intervention to bring an end to this COVID-19 soon.
As you know, it is the tradition of our women to come here at night and buy things from us during Ramadan, especially in the last 10 days of the month because in the day time, they are engaged with domestic work. Unfortunately, this time, we are facing difficulties. We only pray to God to ease things for us.”
Another shop owner, Malam Hassan, who sells blouses and other fashion accessories, said he was only managing the market.
“I used to sell products worth N50,000 every night before but now I hardly make N5000 because those women that were coming to our shop are afraid of law enforcement personnel and we also have to close early because of the curfew imposed,’’ he said.
Another shop owner, Goni Abdullahi also said: “We already accepted the fact that that this time, our sales will not be what it used to be as the government set a limit of hours in the night so you cannot compare it with the time that you don’t have such in limitation.”
