With just a few days to Christmas, some traders in Lagos have expressed mixed reactions over the level of patronage, as rising costs and cautious spending shape the festive market mood.
Some traders at the Balogun Business Association Market and Oyinlola Ifelodun Market in Festac Town told the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday that the usual festive rush had yet to fully set in.
A clothing trader at BBA Market, Mrs Joy Nwachukwu, said sales had improved this year compared with the same period in 2024.
“As at this time last year, I didn’t have many customers coming to buy, but this year has been better.
“Irrespective of the price increase, they’re still buying,” she said.
Mrs Tutu Hunpe, a children’s clothing vendor at Oyinlola Ifelodun Market in Festac Town, said this year’s festive shopping pattern had differed from previous years.
“We are noticing a marked increase in adults purchasing items for personal use rather than prioritising children’s clothing. It appears economic pressures are influencing parental spending decisions,” she said.
Similarly, a shoe vendor at BBA Market, Mr Chukwudi Obi, said shoppers appeared more focused on personal enjoyment in 2025.
“Most of the sales I’ve made are solely for adults.
“It seems a lot of people are focusing more on enjoying this Christmas than they did last year,” he said.
However, many other traders lamented low patronage and what they described as unrealistic bargaining by customers.
A trader at BBA Market, Mrs Blessing Dikeh, said many potential buyers walked away after being told the prices of goods.
“They just call their prices and leave.
“The prices they call are extremely low, far below what I can accept,” she said.
Another trader at Oyinlola Ifelodun Market, Mrs Bolaji Disu, shared a similar experience, attributing it to the rising cost of goods from wholesalers.
She said many customers wrongly believed traders were responsible for price increases.
“We can’t sell our items at the same amount we bought them,” she said.
In the decorations segment, a Christmas ornaments trader, Mrs Joy Chidinma, said that although prices had remained relatively stable, demand was still low.
“Prices of Christmas lights haven’t increased much compared to last year, but the market is slow,” she said.
(NAN)
