In spite of the surge in shopping malls in major parts of Lagos, open markets have been observed to enjoy a high level of patronage.
Women who are major shoppers during the yuletide across the Lagos metropolis were interviewed at various markets such as Mile 12, Ajah markets and malls such as Novare, Sango tedo, and Compramart, Ajah, Lagos.
They were in the markets to purchase items like clothing and shoes, food condiments such as rice, beans, beef, chicken, turkey, pepper, tomatoes, onions, groundnut oil, red oil, vegetables, yams, spices and provisions for hampers.
Mrs Tobi Agbebi, Chief Executive Officer, Cakesbybuttercups, said that her shopping for the yuletide was done preferably at Lagos Island market.
Agbebi gave the reason for her preference to be her ability to get her needs at a wholesale price and the availability of several options.
“The rate at which things are getting expensive in the country, one would need every discount one can get to sort other items.
“Moreover, you have plenty of options to choose from in terms of design and price based on your negotiating power,” she said.
Mrs Olawunmi Ajayi, an administrator, said the fixed prices of items at malls discouraged her interest except on occasions when she was without choice.
“Besides, you see the additions as a result of Value Added Tax (VAT), and many other administration charges that, add up to the increased price at the supermarkets make me run.
“As we are now at Mushin market when I’m buying things, I can bargain to a favourable and pocket-friendly price even when the prices have been fixed but that’s not the same at supermarkets where you have to respect yourself with what you say or be embarrassed out of the place,” she said.
Mrs Aisha Dimas-Oko, a baker said going to the market provided a thrill for her when she bargained particularly with the Hausas who ended up adding ‘gyara’ to her items once a language connection was established.
“I feel like I get more from the normal market and being a northern woman, I can speak Hausa and have them, put “gyara” for me.
“I was trained to go to the market and am used to it. I like the bargain banter and love how there’s so much variety all around,” she said.
On the other hand, Mrs Eniola Kareem, a business woman, expressed her preference for shopping at the malls due to the easy locating and labelling of items, and the reduced level of stress that comes with it.
Kareem added that malls were COVID-19 pandemic safety compliant when compared to the lack of adherence as observed at the open markets.
“I prefer shopping at malls because it is less stressful and I’m not just in for the stress of bargaining, pushing through some dirty and muddy places, and sometimes getting insulted by the sellers at the market,” she said.
Mrs Gift Akhimien, a trader, said as a nursing mom, shopping at supermarkets for provisions and other household items worked perfectly for her.
Akhimien said that items that she couldn’t get at those malls were gotten from street shops instead of markets saving transportation and other logistics costs.
“Sometimes, I get home deliveries for my items too since I have developed relationships with some of the street vendors that just send my items to me.
“I am not cut out for market stress as a nursing mother but I still consider my budget which is a determining factor before I do my marketing,” she said.
Meanwhile, price comparisons of items sold at open markets and at malls revealed slight differences.
A visit to the Novare mall, Sango tedo, revealed that items in spite of their being on sale appeared more expensive than items in markets such as Mile 12 and Ajah markets.
At the malls, a 50kg bag of rice was pegged at N29, 000 while the same went for as low as between N25, 000 and N28, 000 depending on bargaining power.
A three litre of groundnut oil went for N5, 300 at the malls, while same was as low as N4,000 in markets while four litres of palm oil was pegged at N6,000 at the malls and N4,000 for the same quantity at the markets.
The survey also revealed an expected surge in prices in perishables such as tomatoes, pepper, onions, and others due to the upcoming festivities.
Currently, a 40kg basket of tomatoes cost N13,000, scotch bonnet pepper cost N12,000, red bell pepper (tatashe) goes for N20,000, 50kg bag of Red chilli (shombo) was pegged at N18,000.
Also, a jute bag of onions was pegged at N30, 000.
Mr Femi Odusanya, Spokesperson, Mile 12 Traders Association projected that the week up to the Christmas and New Year celebrations, prices of perishable items would soar by about 30 per cent against what was currently obtainable.
Odusanya attributed the development to the increased demand that usually accompanied the season.
He charged the government to address insecurity, provide ease of access to agricultural loans and grants.
Odusanya also urged them to address other bottlenecks hindering farming and the Agricbusiness in general.
