Traders in Benue have expressed joy with the surge in sales in preparation for the Eid-el-Kabir celebration.

They expressed their feelings in separate interviews with journalists on Friday in Makurdi.

Aliyu Yakubu, a rice seller in Makurdi, said weeks ahead of the celebration, he was optimistic that he would make sales during the season.

“Business has been good so far. People are already coming to buy rice for the Sallah celebration,” he said.

Mr Yakubu disclosed that the price of rice per bushel had dropped from N35,000 to between N28,000 and N25,000, depending on the quality or grade of the commodity.

Ibrahim Hassan, a foodstuff trader, said the demand for beans and rice was high during the celebration.

Mr Hassan also said the slash in prices had helped, as a measure of beans, which was sold for N2,300, N2,200 and N2,000, had dropped to N1,900 and N1,800.

Aisha Musa, a trader who sells traditional clothing and accessories, corroborated Mr Yakubu’s story that patronage had been good.

“Many people prefer to wear traditional clothing during the Sallah celebration, so we are expecting a lot of sales in the next few days,” Ms Musa said.

Mary Udende, a trader who sells household items, said they were doing their best to offer discounts to their customers, knowing fully well that many people were struggling to make ends meet.

Peter Ogbe, a customer, said that even as Muslims were celebrating Sallah, prices of commodities remained the same, while in some areas, prices had dropped significantly.

Mr Ogbe, however, expressed worry that during other festive seasons, prices of goods and services used to escalate beyond the reach of the common man.

“What is responsible for this ugly yet persistent trend?” Mr Ogbe queried, expressing hope that the current trend would continue.

(NAN)