Abuja- Some petty traders in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Sunday decried the low patronages occasioned by Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections.
They told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the order on closure of markets and shops had hampered sales.
They said the development had affected some of them that solely relied on money made from sales to feed their families.
A meat seller at Utako market, Malam Ibrahim Ahmed, said the market had recorded a general low turnout of people on Sunday even through the order was relaxed.
According to him, this is not unconnected to the fact that most people had travelled to their towns and villages.
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He further said that most people who stayed back in Abuja for the elections had earlier stocked their homes with sufficient food items.
“People travelled out of Abuja to vote in their home towns that is why we are experiencing the low patronage.
“Those that are around are not making purchases as such, but on the whole, market is moving slowly and I thank God for everything,’’ Ahmed said.
Another trader in Wuse Market, Alhaji Yusuf Maikarfi, said that it was only a matter of time before the situation would normalise.
“I hope to make good sales as soon as the elections are over,’’ Maikarfi said.
Similarly, Miss Blessing Nnana, a foodstuff seller, attributed the low patronage to the stocking of foodstuff by people before the election.
“It is not as if people are not coming but there is general low patronage. I am already getting set to close at 4p.m. instead of the usual 6p.m.,’’ Nnana said.
A fruit seller at Gisiri Junction, opposite NICON Junction, Malam Adamu Suleh, said he had not sold a single fruit as at 3p.m.
Suleh said the low patronage was directly linked to the continuing of voting in some polling units.
“It is unfortunate we were banned from hawking or milling around polling units to sell our items,’’ Suleh said. (NAN)
