November 21, (THEWILL) – Petty traders in various markets across Owerri have expressed concerns over a significant decline in sales, describing the situation as unusual and worrying.
Several traders, who spoke to The Will on Friday, November 11, 2024, attributed the slump in sales to widespread economic hardship.
Mr. Edmund Onuoha, a rice seller at Nkwo Orji market, lamented that the number of customers he usually served has drastically decreased.
He noted that in previous years, by the second week of November, he would have sold over six bags of rice, in addition to receiving numerous deposits.
This year, however, his customers have stopped coming.
“By this time in past years, I would have sold at least six bags of rice. But this year, it’s a different story. People are just not buying,” Onuoha said.
He further added that his customers had confided in him about the tough times they were facing.
Mrs. Kelechi Ekeledo, a stockfish dealer, also voiced her frustration, revealing that her sales had dropped dramatically.
Ekeledo, who had invested heavily in stockfish, stated that despite her efforts, she had been unable to recover her capital.
“I’ve exhausted all my money in purchasing the stock you see here, and it’s disheartening to think that I might lose everything. The sales are just not coming in,” she lamented.
Similarly, Uwalaka, a middle-aged footwear vendor along the bustling Douglas Road, shared his struggle with low patronage.
“Business used to be better. I’ve been in the footwear business for five years, but this year has been the hardest. The situation is so bad, I’m worried about being able to feed my family,” Uwalaka said.
He appealed to the government for financial support, urging the authorities to provide loans to help small traders like him survive.
Efforts to reach, the Commissioner for Finance and Economic Planning, Chuks Chukwuemeka, for comment on the situation were unsuccessful, as he was reported to be out of Owerri at the time of filing this report.
