As the day begins and people begin to go to the market, Lillian Tejiri carefully sweeps and shades her business of catfish for sale. Like many other traders, she hopes for a profitable day. Yet many customers come, ask for prices, shake their heads, and say: “I am coming,” but never come back.
“The economy is very bad, everything is expensive now,” she said, adding: “Even the catfish I sell is very expensive. So many customers come and leave without buying because the prices are too high.”
Across markets and roadside stalls, stories like hers have become increasingly common. For small-scale traders across the country, the business is no longer about making profit. It is now about how to survive from one day to the next.
Nigeria’s worsening economic situation, caused by rising inflation and high cost of living, has placed a significant amount of pressure on traders who depend on daily sales to survive. As prices continue to rise, many consumers are forced to cut down on their spending, leaving the sellers with reduced patronage.
Praise Lawrence, who sells frozen chicken in the Abraka market in Delta State, has witnessed the change firsthand. “People are not buying as much as before because there is no money,” she said.
This experience shows a growing reality of the country. Customers who once bought in large quantities now buy what they can afford. Some even leave without buying anything.
Another woman who has spent eight years in the wrapper business, says the current economic hardship is unlike anything she has experienced before. “A small fish now sells for as high as N5,000,” she said.
The money that could buy many goods before can no longer buy the same quantity today. This has caused sales to go down.
Behind these simple statements are stories of families trying to make ends meet. Mothers and fathers struggling to provide for their children, and entrepreneurs watching years of hard work threatened by circumstances beyond their control.
The challenges extend beyond declining sales. Many traders operate with limited capital, lack access to loans, or government-backed support that could help curb the effects of inflation. As fuel prices, transportation costs, and prices of goods continue to rise, keeping businesses afloat becomes increasingly difficult.
According to Henry EkeneTutu, a lecturer in the Economics Department of Delta State University, the challenges traders face are part of a larger economic crisis affecting the country. EkeneTutu explained that the persistent depreciation of the naira against major foreign currencies has weakened purchasing power and increased the prices of goods and services. Nigeria’s dependency on imported goods further exposes the economy to exchange rate fluctuations, making essential commodities more expensive for the citizens.
While inflation affects everyone, he noted that small-scale traders often feel the impact directly because they operate with limited financial resources and are exposed to daily market changes.
For many of these traders, every rise in price carries consequences. It means fewer customers, lower profits, and uncertainty about the future.
Despite the difficulties faced by these traders, they continue to show remarkable resilience. Every day, they open their shops, clean, arrange their goods, and wait for customers, hoping for a better day ahead.
Yet their message remains clear: without meaningful intervention to address rising costs and support small businesses, survival may become increasingly difficult for the very people who keep local markets alive.
As Nigeria continues to grapple with economic challenges, the experiences of these women serve as a reminder that behind every inflation statistic is a human story. One of struggle, perseverance, and the determination to keep going despite the odds.
. Oshiorelumhe, a 200 level journalism student of Delta State University, Abraka, can be reached via [email protected].
More details here...
