Residents in last minute shopping, lament low patronage, high cost of items

The usual frenzy of last-minute shopping that characterises the Christmas season was noticeably subdued yesterday, as the harsh economic reality faced by many citizens took its toll. Despite the festive atmosphere, many Nigerians struggled to make ends meet, with the high cost of living, rising inflation, and dwindling purchasing power.

The worst hit were traders who were not selling food items.  A boutique owner at Ikotun market, Jossy Ikechukwu, lamented that he has not been able to meet up with his expectations after sourcing money to buy goods at a high cost.
  
According to him, he has borrowed money to stock his boutique, anticipating a bumper turn over but the reality on the ground is that people are prioritising food items to clothes.
 
 “It’s been tough, but we’re managing,” said a mother of four, Bisola Abodunrin, who was seen shopping for her family.   
 
 “We’re just focusing on the essentials and cutting back on non-essential spending. I had to cut back on my shopping list this year,” said Mrs. Nkechi Okoro, a civil servant who was at Ayobo market in Lagos.
 
 “The prices of goods have gone up, and my salary has not increased. I have to prioritise my spending.”  The situation was not different even for fashion designers, who complained of low patronage. “This is usually the busiest time of the year for us, but this year has been very slow,” said a fashion designer, Ehaekhaye Imama, 
  
“People are just not buying and sewing like they used to. There is a family of four that I used to sew about three different outfits for each of the family members, but this year, they just made one outfit each and they haven’t come to collect probably because of lack of money,” she lamented.

A trader who sells food items in FESTAC Town, Mrs. Chinelo Okeke, said she is yet to feel the last-minute rush that characterised Christmas shopping in Lagos this year.
  
She said: “This period is always a busy one for us. People always embark on last-minute shopping before Christmas to get themselves together for the celebration and It’s a time of high sales for us but it is different this year.”
  
When asked about her expectations for the celebration, Mrs Okeke replied: “I just want it to be a peaceful one. I want everyone to enjoy the holiday season with their loved ones, without any trouble or stress.”