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Some tailors in Bauchi State have expressed great worries over what they described as low patronage by residents ahead of this year’s Eld-el-Fitr celebration.
Those who spoke about their unpleasant experiences on Friday blamed the situation on the current economic challenges in the country.
They said that many families were struggling to fend for their basic needs, mainly food and health.
One of them, Adam Isaac, said that he had not experienced the type of low patronage with the Sallah celebration around the corner since he started the tailoring business many years ago.
Mr Isaac said that the economic difficulty “did not spare anybody,” pointing out that “both the middle and low-income earners are affected.”
Also, Comfort John, who expressed shock at the level of the low patronage, said she had already closed business and would reopen after the Sallah celebration.
Ms John hinged her decision on low patronage, adding that “customers are not sewing new clothes for the Sallah.”
She said, “Honestly speaking, this low patronage is unprecedented, especially now that the Muslim faithful are about to celebrate Eid-el-Fitr.
“I can’t just believe what is happening but who are we to blame when we all know how difficult things are these days?”
Isiaka Musa, who said that he used to collect more than 20 new materials to sew during the Eid-el-Fitr celebrations in the past, said he only had nine this period.
Another tailor, Abdullahi Isa, said: “If the economy is good, people can afford to meet their needs as they used to do some years ago.
“Many children are not happy with their parents for not buying them Sallah clothes this year.
“Of course, they would not know that it wasn’t their fault but the difficult economy.”
They appealed to the government at every level to initiate policies and programmes that would address the economic difficulties in a sustainable manner and make life easier for the people.
