Kano, Feb. 17, 2024: Grain sellers in some major markets in Kano have decried the worsening state of the country’s economy, which is affecting their sales.
Some of the dealers said on Friday in Kano said that sales of food products have fallen due to the economic situation in the country.
Muhammad Ali, a grains seller at Yankaba Market said that the economic downturn had affected their sales.
He said that the situation had also affected the customers’ purchasing power.
According to him, the development has contributed to the slight drop in prices of goods in the market.
Ali Said that a bag of maize sells for about N53,000 now, against the old price of N58,000.
He further said that a bag of guinea corn now sells at N49,000, depending on the quality, whereas the old price was N54,000.
Another trader at Sabon-Gari Market, Nuhu Abubakar, explained that the economic situation was affecting virtually all sectors in the country.
“The patronage is not encouraging and sometimes we end up not making much profit as expected.
“Foodstuff is available, but the patronage is low. Sales have not been encouraging at all,” he added.
Abubakar further said a bag of millet, which used to sell at N60,000 now costs N53,000.
He added that a bag of beans now costs between N85,000 and N90,000, as against the old price of between N95,000 and N100,000, depending on quality.
Another trader at Kasuwan Allah-Sarki in Dakata, Abdulaziz Buba, said that the economic hardship had affected so many businesses and some traders were still struggling to meet their targeted sales.
According to him, prices of some commodities have dropped slightly but most customers can’t afford to buy.
“This is a new year; we are hopeful that things will indeed change for the better. I urge Nigerians to support and pray for the government,” he said.
Muttaka Isa, the president of Dawanau International grains Market, largest grains market in the state, pleaded with the government to proffer solutions to the situation.
He said that the development had also reduced the purchasing power of many consumers, making them lose interest in buying more goods.
“The sales of food products have dropped due to the hardship in the economy of the country, which has affected the customers’ purchasing power,” he said.
Isa said that a bag of soya beans now sells at N65,000 as against N68,000 while a bag of sesame seed which used to be sold at N225,000 now costs N220,000.
Isa further said a big bag of local rice which was sold between N110,000 and N115,000 now sells between N95,000 and N100,000 while a bag of wheat now sells for N60,000 as against N63,000.
According to him, a bag of maize sells for about N53,000 now, against the old price of N58,000.
The president of the market expressed optimism that prices of goods would drop in the next few weeks.
