Huge crowds took over the middle of Jos city in last-minute Christmas shopping after Plateau state government last week paid a backlog of three months of workers salaries and seven months of pension entitlements.
Worst affected is Ahmadu Bello Way, Terminus area and Murtala Muhammed Way in the heart of Jos, where shoppers thronged from 8am.
Automated Teller Machines (ATM) were also crowded with customers queuing as early as 5am in Jos while customers coming from the central and southern senatorial zone of the State were also seen trooping into town for withdrawals due to fewer banks in those areas.
Juliana Monday a civil servant told a Daily Trust correspondent that the salaries came at the right time but advised parents not to exhaust the money on the Christmas festivities but save part of the money which should be used in paying school fees in January.
Monday said, “You can see how crowded Jos city has become, the market is full and it is better to come to the market using public transport but if you must come with a car then you have to park at a very far distance and walk.”
Traders have seen a boost in customer patronage in the last one week which consequently resulted in food price hike.
Sarah Mancha who sells vegetables at the Terminus market said, “In the last two days I sold vegetables worth N38,000. I didn’t think I would make some money at the Christmas but it is good, things are good.”
Our correspondent gathered that a basket of tomatoes which sold at N800 last week as at Friday sold for N2,000 while transport fare from Jos to Abuja which used to cost N1,500 now costs N2,000.
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