LAGOS – Traders in three major markets in Lagos on Wednesday attributed the low sales being recorded in the markets to the over-stocking of food items due to the fear of violence during the just-concluded Presidential and National Assembly elections.
Some of the traders told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in interviews that sales might not rebound until after the entire elections on April 11.
According to Mr Femi Odusanya, Public Relations Officer of the Mile 12 market traders union, a lot of people went on panic buying in the weeks before last Saturday’s elections, in the fear of some post-elections violence.
“Many residents are now at home, watching the outcome of the elections.
“Even our trucks that bring farm produce from the North have stayed away from the markets because of the uncertainty and tensed political atmosphere before the elections.
“The normal situation should return soon, due to the lack of violence after the results of the Presidential election have been released,” he said.
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Alhaja Basirat Balogun,the Iyaloja-General of the Mainland Market Association, said that many traders shunned the markets due to fear of violence.
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Balogun said that that fear may have gone because the traders had returned.
“But on Monday and Tuesday were worse for the Lagos markets, when the results of the presidential election was getting delayed.
“Most people stayed indoors. Lagosians avoided public places and limited their movements within their neighbourhoods.
“The situation affected trading activities negatively, especially those who traded on perishable items,” she said.
Mrs Aina Osuji, a trader at the Balogun market in Lagos Island, said, “You need to see the way the few people that came to the market yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon rushed to leave.
“They hurried out of the market when they heard that the presidential election results were about to be announced.
“Most people panicked. The roads were deserted because of the self-imposed restriction that residents placed upon themselves.
“Seriously, I want to say that Nigerians love peace and stability in the country,” she added. (NAN)