Nigerians in last minute shopping across markets
Nigerians from across the nation are making contingency arrangements including panic-buying and cash withdrawals ahead of the Saturday polls featuring Presidential and National Assembly elections.
In Lagos, our reporters report of huge and frantic purchases in various markets especially foot stuff. Markets and banks were the busiest places in the Lagos area as Lagosians made deliberate efforts to purchase enough foodstuff.
“I am buying more than I used to buy for any weekend because nobody knows how the elections will turn out”, says Mrs. Amaka Okonji, who had to shuttle between the ATM and the market to finance her purchases of mostly foodstuff and meat.
As it is in Lagos, so it is in other states and cities. Residents of Asaba, Delta State made the Ogbogonogo market their Mecca for much of Friday. Items on the shopping list are largely foodstuff like garri, rice, beans, and yam.
Enugu residents also engaged in panic purchase of food items. News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent who monitored markets in the metropolis reports that the rush was noticed mainly in the major markets.
At the Ogbete Main Market, people were mostly rushing for perishable food items such as meat, tomatoes, dry fish, ice fish, and vegetable.
NAN gathered that the rush was to accumulate enough stock that would sustain them throughout the election period.
The rush was also taking place at the Artisan and Ariaria markets all within Enugu metropolis
A Police officer, Mrs. Angela Obi told NAN that she was shopping against Saturday because she would be on election duties in the state.
“We have already started working by ensuring that laws and order were maintained throughout the election perio and beyond,” Obi said.
Mrs. Nkem Okoro, a banker said that she was shopping to enable her travel to her village to cast her vote on Saturday.
“I registered in my village, and need to do my shopping this morning so that I can travel later today.
“I am traveling to the village with my family, I need to travel early in order to reach there on time” Okoro said.
Mr. Jude Eze, a civil servant said that he took permission from my office to do the shopping since there was no public holiday in Enugu as was done in some states.
“I came to the market early today because I want to cool down and buy everything I needed against Saturday’s election”.
Mrs. Kate Ugwuanyi, a tomato dealer, told NAN that she had made bumper sales because of the rush.
“I have sold four and half basket of tomatoes today.
“I am optimistic that before the end of the day I will be able to sell up to six baskets of tomatoes,” she said.
