2025: Kaduna biz owners lament sharp drop in prices, patronage

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

As the year 2025 continues unfolding, some business owners in  Kaduna have expressed dismay over the Sharp drop in prices and demand for goods and services as a result of low patronage and demand.

A survey  revealed the expectations of traders in contrast to the reality of business activities.

While some traders embrace the realities with the hope of the season’s best, some still grapple with the January atmosphere, saying it is unexpected.

For a Tomatoes Trader at the popular Bakin Dogo Market, Mallam Abdulrahman, he experienced bumper sales in the ember months as against January.

According to him, a basket of tomatoes was bought at the price of 55,000 and resold in retail at 65-70 thousand Naira.

However, in sharp contrast to this, he disclosed that the price has drastically reduced from 65,000 to 25 thousand Naira, adding that a small basket of tomatoes can be priced at 18,000 Naira.

Ironically, he disclosed that despite the price drop, the business has experienced a lower rate of sales contrary to the belief that the lower the price, the higher the demand.

“Since we entered this January, I have never sold 10 or 15 baskets in one day. Look everywhere; people are scarce, so the market does not move.

“Even the price of tomatoes is cheap, now, I can sell you a big basket of tomatoes for 25,000 Naira, but for December, I will sell 65,000.

“If you give me 18,000 for a small Basket, I will collect because tomatoes are plenty even from the farm, but see, the market is not moving, and people are not buying even as tomatoes cheap now.”

He however, attributed this to the fact that Kaduna was well populated in December due to the festive period when people traveled in to visit their loved ones or bought goods to gift their loved ones outside the State.

He said: “The thing is this, during December time, many people enter Kaduna. People plenty because they come to visit family, relatives, or friends, but now, they have to go back.

“I sell plenty in December even as tomatoes cost because my customers buy plenty; some of them even order baskets of tomatoes from outside Kaduna, like the Eastern part, so I sell plenty, but now, everybody has to go back, only we remain.”

Similarly, the owner of BIB Soya Oil, Alhaji Bashir, noted that despite the fall in the price of oil, there has been a low turnout of sales.

He explained that in the last month, a Gallon of Groundnut oil was sold for 95,000 Naira while Red oil was sold for 65,000.

He opined that it was easier for him to sell 30-35 Jerry Cans in a day than it is for him to sell now when the price has dropped to 85,000 Naira.

He explained that although he noted that the price of red oil got a five thousand Naira increase, the sales have remained the same due to low patronage from customers.

“In December, the number of liters I sold was more than 20 because people were buying and buying as if something would happen if you don’t buy.

“That is the goodness of the festive season because everybody must celebrate, people must eat and oil is a major ingredient.

“But you see, this January, even as the price drops, people are not buying because Christmas and New Year have passed, so we just have to wait and go with the flow, but business is still moving”, he stated.

Furthermore, he disclosed that it is not a new experience to him since the same occurred last year, 2024, adding that he hopes things turn around for the best in good time.

Meanwhile, a trader who majors in selling Garri, Mr Odion Ajayi, revealing that his goods had low sales in December despite its low cost of 45-50 thousand Naira.

He, however, attributed this to the fact that people were focused on purchasing only necessities needed for the season, including favorite foodstuffs, of which garri does not top the chart.

He said: “Festival or no festival, garri is on its own. Rice will sell more, beans and others, but garri sells all the time because the need is constant, and it appears the most affordable.

“We sold a bag of garri for 45-50 thousand Naira in December and the sale was like that of any other season because not everyone wants garri for Christmas.

“But this January, the price increased, now we are selling a bag for 65-70 thousand, and the sale is getting better than before.”

According to him, January is a time for resumption, and students returning to school bank on garri to survive because it is affordable and easier to consume.

He added that “People have spent money on fancy foods during the festive season but now that it has passed, everyone is focused on surviving.

“You see parents buying garri for their children to take to school because they can drink garri to support main foods or use as eba to eat soup that will last for one week”

Corroborating this, Mrs Oluwagbolu Bashirat said she only bought goods that were necessary for the season and saved her money for January.

She said: “There’s hardly a person that will tell me they don’t know how things work in January. So, I worked towards saving more and spending less money.”

Citing her reason, she noted that the price of most goods is intentionally increased by greedy traders who want to make more money.

She lamented that most traders hoard goods and sell in seasons they perceive people will go all out to get it, adding that it is the major reason for the high cost of goods.

According to her: “Knowing how January can be, I try to save enough and do the major shopping in January because that’s when the needs come more.

“I also prefer to shop in January because the price of goods would be reduced.

“In December, most traders increase the cost of their goods to gain more but in January, the main price is what you will get.”