As the Muslim holy month of Ramadan starts, traders in Kano have continued to lament customers’ poor patronage.

Some traders who spoke on Sunday in Kano attributed the situation to the low purchasing power of customers.

A foodstuff dealer, Tanko Idris, said that sales have fallen short this year compared to previous years.

Mr Idris noted that though prices of some commodities, especially consumables, normally soar during the Ramadan fasting period, people still purchased goods.

A perishable items dealer, Saminu Dauda, also complained that business was not thriving as much as it used to be.

He explained that the economic downturn in the country contributed to the ugly situation.

A vegetable seller, Sani Ali, lamented that the situation was strange compared to what he had seen in the market whenever Ramadan approached or started.

Mr Ali said many customers complained of paucity of funds due to the economic situation.

He also lamented that the economic realities have affected the purchasing power of many customers.

A resident, Nura Baba, complained about the high prices of rice, millet, flour, and sugar, which, he said, had disturbed him as the fasting period approached.

Mr Baba said, “For example, with sugar selling at more than N5,5000 per measure, rice costing more than N3,500 per measure, millet being sold at N1,800 per slot, and crate of egg going for N3,300, how do they want us to feed during the Ramadan period?”

He appealed to dealers and retailers of food items in the state to “drastically reduce their prices in the spirit of the holy month.”

(NAN)