How Unpaid Salaries, High Cost of Commodities Affect Sallah Shoppings in Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Zaria

Barely two days to Eid-el-Fitr celebration, residents in Kano, Jigawa and Katsina states as well as Zaria in Kaduna state, have expressed concern over increase in prices of essential commodities and non-payment of workers' salaries in the four states.

Kano Chronicle observed that while prices of the commodities such as textile materials, poultry products, perishable items and shoes among others have jumped-up few days to the annual festivity, workers in the affected states have not been paid June salaries.

Although most of the markets visited by our reporters in Kano were crowded with customers, traders lamented low patronage. It was also gathered that, prices of commodities have increased beyond many people's purchasing power.

A textile merchant at famous Kantin Kwari textile market, Alhaji Isa Usaini Oscar said that a textile material that was sold at N3, 000 last year now sells at N4, 000 and that of N2, 500 is now sold at N3, 700, noting that, the hike was responsible for the low patronage they were experiencing.

"Indeed, only few people can afford to purchase new clothes for themselves, their wives and children. You can see people pricing but only few do actually buy," Oscar said.

Kano Chronicle also gathered that poultry products have also experienced an increase in price as a kilo of frozen chicken that used to be sold at N750 is now N950. Findings at Tarauni market revealed that a live chicken that was sold at N1, 000 last year is now N2, 500.

Malama Zainab Abdullahi, a civil servant said "from all indications many people won't be able to eat chicken this Sallah, as for me I have already decided to go for beef."

According to a shoe dealer in Sabongari market, Alhaji Musbahu Abubakar, two things were responsible for the low patronage.

He said, "We believe the low patronage is as a result of the fact that people purchasing power is weak at the moment because they have not received their salaries and the little increase in prices of products experienced recently.

For instance, children shoes that were sold N1500 last year now sells at N2700 to N3000 and that of men that was sold N2500 is now N3700."

Also, a survey conducted by our correspondent in Zaria, revealed that prices of some commodities are actually going down. In Sabon Gari market, which is the main Zaria market, it was found that prices of foodstuffs like rice have lately gone down.

At the beginning of Ramadan, according to a rice wholesaler, Alhaji Munir Abdullahi, a 50kg bag of rice was selling for N14,500 but it had dropped to N14,200.

He said, "If you are buying in bulk, you can even get discount. We are happy because our people can afford what to cook during the Sallah festivities."

Similarly, price of cooking oil has also drooped, according to findings. For example, a 50-litre yellow Jerry can of 'groundnut' oil that was selling for N14,000 is now N12,000.

However, some products like spaghetti, macaroni, maggi and sugar are maintaining their previous prices. A packet of spaghetti remains N3,650, while a 50kg bag of sugar still sells at N15,000.

Investigation revealed that, a basket of fresh tomato that was selling for N3,000 is now N28,000.

Malam Isa Danladi said his wife introduced the idea of dried tomato to him, adding that; "since we can't afford fresh one, we have to go for dried one andhaving realising that people are rushing to their stalls, traders of the dried tomato are now increasing the price."

A popular tradition that residents of Zaria engage in during Sallah is 'Kaukawa'. It is a situation where residents form clusters and contribute money to buy cow and share the meat for the festivities

By Ibrahim Musa Giginyu, Richard P. Ngbokai, Habibu Umar Amin and Aliyu M Hamagam