Valentine: Traders lament low patronage

Some clothes dealers in New Nyanya, New Karu, Nasarawa State, have decried the low patronage of red clothes in spite of the Valentine’s Day celebration.

Some of the dealers, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday, said that most of the red clothing collections stocked for the season have not been sold out.

According to them, the 2024 Valentine was much better compared to this year in terms of patronage.

Mr Chimso Ike, a shop owner at New Nyanya , said that there was no rush for red clothes this Valentine, attributing the development to the hardship in the country.

” This year Valentine’s Day is different from other years, the patronage is not as encouraging compared to two to three years back when we had to restock fast so as to meet up with the demands.

A boutique owner, Mrs Portia Emmanuel, said the selling of red outfits has been discouraging; customers are not rushing to get red outfits as usual.

” I will not deny that we are not selling, but not as it used to be in the past years when you see lovers trooping to a boutique to request a red dress.

“Celebration of the love season has to go with red clothes in order to make the day beautiful and colourful ,” she said.

Miss Gift Ibegbulem, who went out with her lover to Family Kitchen in New Nyanya, said that wearing red outfits signifies love.

According to her, the colour red stands for love and this is a day that love is celebrated in its fullest.

” We are here to celebrate love, the reason why we are wearing red. Red is a wonderful colour that connotes many things.

“Love is the strongest meaning that can be given to the colour,” she said.

Mr Honour Godwin, said Valentine Day has to do with love, adding that couples who choose to ignite the fire of love, used the opportunity to do so.

According to him, a lot of people do not understand the origin; most people are abusing the day, especially young ones.

“It is a season when couples and aspiring ones express their love for each other through exchange of gifts, dining together at eateries and restaurants, ” he said.

Valentine’s Day is always celebrated every Feb. 14 all over the world, it is seen as a day to share love among friends, relations and lovers.