As Muslim faithful mark the 2021 Maulud celebrations, petty traders now make brisk sales as they record high patronage ocassioned by the massive influx of visitors in Bauchi metropolis.
A check by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Bauchi, showed that sale outlets had sprung up in different locations in the metropolis with traders displaying various wares in the open.
The open space market attracted hundred of traders from Jos, Kano, Gombe and Jigawa States, who sale goods such as plastics and textile materials, caps, shoes, cosmetics, perfumes, kitchen utensils among others.
NAN reports that business transaction at the market lasted for seven days starting from 12 to 19 of Rabi-ul-Awwal (the third month of the Islamic Hijra Calendar).
NAN reports also that the open market is popular especially among residents and visitors who thronged to Bauchi to celebrate the Maulud.
Some of the traders who spoke NAN, said they were recording high sales at the market.
Malam Abdulrahman Salihu, a cap vendor , said he attended the market every year, and made good saving from the trade.
“We thank God for giving us the opportunity to do our businesses as well as worship during the Maulud celebration.
“I come from Kano to sell caps. It is an open market where people come in from other states to buy and sell.
“We are making sales at affordable rates to woo customers. There is a reduction in prices because it is an open market,” he said.
Malam Saifullah Datti, a textile dealer, said that he sale dresses at the market in the past five years.
“Every year; at the end of the Maulud celebrations, I made good saving from the trade.
“The prices here are cheaper than in the market, and this resulted to the high patronage,” he said.
On her part, Mrs Hauwa Aliyu, a resident, said she had high preference for the open space market in view of its cheaper prices.
“I bought shoes for my children, I got a difference of between N400 and N500, that is why I came to the open market,” he said.
Another resident, Malam Auwalu Bala, a Customers said they patronised the open market because their prices are not high.
“Traders came with assorted goods from various states, it avail opportunities to have a choice on what to buy at lower prices.
“I bought shoes, caps and dresses for my children to celebrate the Maulud in a happy mood,” he said.
Also, Alhaji Auwalu Kankarofi, the Chairman of the open market, said the market opened once every year during the Maulud celebration.
Kankarofi commended the state government for giving them the opportunity to sell their goods without hinderance.
Meanwhile, the Police Command in the state, said that it had adopted proactive measures in collaboration with other security agencies to protect lives and propery during the celebrations.
The spokesman of the Command, SP Ahmed Wakil, urged members of the public to provided credible information on suspecious persons and movement in their communities (NAN)
