Traders lament effect of election postponement as Nigerians head to the polls

Election is just a few hours away but contrary to the shopping rush expected at markets and malls, many Nigerians are taking it easy and making do with what they already have. Friday, February 15 was a different story altogether. The working population thronged to popular markets, shopping centers and supermarkets all in a bid to stock up household groceries, food stuff and general supplies.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had postponed the polls by a week. The presidential and national assembly elections were moved from February 16 to February 23, while the governorship and state assembly was shifted from to March 2 to March 9.

On another eve preceding election, many are less concerned about what could possibly go wrong, hence the low mpo

Shoppers engage in panic buying–but with less enthusiasm 

TheCable visited some markets and spoke with people across the country to get a feel of how Saturday’s elections informed their shopping decisions.

Mina Dele, a human resource consultant who lives in Gbagada, Lagos, said she didn’t engage in panic-buying because she always stock up her house with provisions on a need basis.

“Yes, I went to the market last week Friday just to get some items I needed to replenish at home. It was like a scene from a Black Friday sales,” she said.

“De Prince Supermarket and Home Affairs– both neighbourhood stores– were filled to the brim with shoppers seeking to stock up on all sorts of merchandise. It was really a scary sight.

“But today is not half as bad as it was last week. I guess people are less enthusiastic about the elections now.”

An Abuja resident who simply identified herself as Remi, said: “Last week, I spent almost 45 minutes in the queue at a supermarket in the estate here before I could pay for what I bought.

“Today however, things seem normal and even traffic flow is lighter. As if the city is sort of empty. People are going about normally like every other day here today. Even Wuse market appears normal. No unusual crowds.

“Someone that travelled last week for the election to Lagos said she won’t this time around. She doesn’t even care if the election holds.”

Ogunkoya, who lives in Ogun state, said although citizens are wary of election related violence, many of them have travelled to their various polling units to vote.

“People are still doing panic buying here in Ijebu but not like last week. People here still have the fear that there might be violence and break down of order after the elections,” she said.

“The traffic is slightly less heavy compared to last week. Though, if you get to Ibadan garage here, you cannot get any bus heading that way. And none coming in from Ibadan to Ijebu. It shows people have really travelled to vote.”

In neighbouring Oyo state, Flora Olajide, said: “Last week, lots of people were scared but now Ibadan is calm.  A lot of people are however not ready to go out tomorrow according to my research. Some said they cant travel to where they registered because they did last week only for INEC to postpone the election.

“Some said they’re scared of the statement credited to the president over ballot box snatchers.”

The situation is a little bit different in Kontagora, Niger state. Andrew Randa, a native of the town said he noticed “panic withdrawals” at various automated teller machines (ATM).

At the market in town, Randa said his quest to buy fish was futile as the item had finished before he got there.

Jessica Amadi, who lives in Port Harcourt, Rivers state, said consumers trooped to the market this week.

“The buying was enormous last week. But I was also at the market this Thursday and it was way too crowded. Markets still had a large number of buyers,” she said.

“Shops are already closing for the day. Usually on a Friday like this, traffic is always heavy but we saw a free flow today. It could be the public holiday announced by the federal government.”

“I personally stuffed the house with essentials,” Jane Onyi who lives in Enugu said.

“People are anticipating post election violence here. Malls are busy maybe because they won’t open till tomorrow evening.”

Fatimoh Bulyamin, a resident of Ilorin, the Kwara state capital, said shoppers are still on a spending spree, but not as much as the previous week.

“Right now I’m involved in the rush. It’s just that it’s not as pronounced as that of last week. Last week was crazy out here. The rush was something else here,” she said.

Also, speaking on market activities and “election-related tension”, Moses Nagogo from Lokoja, Kogi state capital, said there was a huge presence of shoppers.

“It even happened today and today was market day in Lokoja. There is tension in Kogi generally. As I chat…I went to sleep in a friend’s house,” Nagogo said.

‘Less sales for us’

While Nigerian consumers went on a “spending rampage” in preparation of the general election last week, market sellers and shop attendants were recording huge sales and smiling to the bank.

The popular Mile 12 market along Ikorodu road in Lagos is a hub for all kinds of food stuffs one can think of. Food supplies are usually sold at cheaper prices than other markets in the states, thereby attracting retailers who come to shop in bulk to resell at higher prices– for a good profit margin.

But when TheCable visited the market on Friday evening, sellers complained of less patronage than they would have expected.

A woman who sells “Elubo” better known as yam flour told this reporter that sales were very poor on Friday compared to last week.

“If you had come last week, you will not see where to put your leg. The market was filled with people,” she said in Yoruba.

“There is no market today. No rushing like last week when we made lots of sales.

A man from the northern part of the country who sells dried fish in bulk also said sales were not encouraging because people had “travelled”.

“You know say people don travel so we no sell like last week when people plenty for here (You know people have travelled so sales today is not as much as it was last week),” he said.

Agboju market, nestled in 2nd Gate, Festac Town, Lagos was slightly more busy than it usually is on a Friday afternoon.

When this reporter visited the market at noon, sellers said last Friday’s sales were significantly higher than even sales made during the yuletide season.

“We sold so much last week even more than Christmas time,” a woman who sells fresh vegetables, said.

“I’m sure people are still eating what they bought last week because what they bought was so much. We have not sold much today. Maybe more people will come towards evening.”

The Ikeja City Mall is a shopper’s haven and a preferred spot for fun seekers who wish to relax with friends at any time of the day.

Shoprite in particular, is historically known to attract shoppers from various walks of life.

A cashier at the till (cash register) who preferred not to be named said what he had seen as of 3pm on Friday afternoon could not be compared with the rush that was experience in the previous week.

“Last week between 5pm and 6pm when my shift was supposed to end. The crowd here was massive. It was like people were buying things that would last them for a month. I have never seen anything like it,” the attendant said.

Although voter apathy seems to have resulted from the postponement of the polls, it seems Nigerians are still anticipating “tough days” as buying and selling continues across states in the country.