Second-hand clothes dealers, popularly known as ‘Yan’gwanjo’, are smiling to the banks as their businesses are booming in Kano due to the harmattan season.

A survey of markets in the metropolis on Wednesday revealed a rush for second-hand warm clothes, blankets and head warmers in the last few days due to the intense cold weather.

Checks around the metropolis also revealed that several temporary markets and shops had been created to sell second-hand clothes.

Some of the dealers interviewed expressed happiness over the development.

Tanko Idris, who sells second-hand children’s cardigans, head warmers and trousers in the Kofar-Wambai market, said the surge started a few weeks ago.

“The high demand for the items has made business very lucrative. Customers plead with me to call them whenever I want to open new bales,” he said.

Mr Idris said he usually made about N35,000 or more from sales every week.

Another dealer at Kofar-Wambai, Musa Isa, who sells second-hand winter jackets and head warmers, also corroborated the claim.

Mr Isa said the business had been profitable for the past few weeks when preparations for the Christmas and the harmattan season commenced.

“With the increased harmattan cold since the first and second week of December, the patronage has doubled. I open a bale of clothing daily,” he explained.

Agnes John, who sells second-hand ladies’ clothing, turtlenecks, trousers and blankets in Sabon-Gari market, said business had picked up notably.

Ms John explained that she made N15,000 on every bale she opened.

Ado Bala, another dealer in the farm centre, explained that he ventured into the business because it was always lucrative during the harmattan period.

He stated that there was no second-hand market close to his community, so he decided to add it to his business of selling provisions.

Mr Ado, however, said he received a high level of patronage as people trooped to his shop to buy the clothes daily.

However, Amina Yahaya, one of the customers at the Kofar-Wambai market, lamented the high price of second-hand clothing.

“The weather is very cold, so I don’t want to jeopardize my health and that of my family. That’s why I am here to get these clothes. The items are very expensive when compared to last year,” she explained.

Similarly, Nasiru Garo, a civil servant, said he was in the market to purchase warm clothes for his five children, but sellers were taking advantage of the high demand to hike their prices.

(NAN)