Sallah: Commercial activities at low ebb in FCT

Some traders and commercial vehicle operators, who spoke to City News, said there has been low patronage, adding that most residents must have travelled to their respective states of origin.
Among places visited by City News are Berger Roundabout, Area I and Jabi Motor Park, where the hitherto busy areas were half populated with few commercial activities taking place.
Segun Oyelade, a taxi driver who plies Berger-Lugbe axis, lamented low patronage, which he said declines by the day.
“We have been recording fewer passengers since Wednesday even before the commencement of the public holidays because that was when residents started moving out to their various states and it has been affecting our business seriously. Unlike before, I now wait for 30 minutes before my cab is filled with passengers. I hardly realize half of what I used to make before the Sallah holidays,” he said.
Another commercial driver, Larry Bright, explained that the low patronage is occasioned by the absence of civil servants whom he said are observing the public holidays.
“Most of our passengers are civil servants and school children. I personally have a year contract with about five families; I pick them up from their offices and schools every working day. But as we speak, none of them is in town,” he said.
The situation is the same in Area 1 and Wuse Market. Saliu Ahmed, a fashion designer, said business has been dull after the initial customer boom before Sallah.
Kabir Musa, who deals in textile materials at Wuse Market, said that the rush for textiles prior to Sallah has dropped drastically, while hoping that sales will pick up after the celebrations.
An Economist, John Ellas, said that massive migration of people at any point in time takes its toll on market chain, saying people make the market boom. “The places they travelled to will experience high sales and vice versa,” he said.