Dealers in second-hand wear and other items in Jos are currently making brisk businesses as residents of the city are shopping for Christmas and New Year celebrations.
A News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) survey around the popular Terminus market on Wednesday showed that patronage for used clothing, popularly known as ‘Okrika’, is high.
Some dealers who spoke to NAN said that massive shopping for Christmas is responsible for the high patronage.
One of them, Sani Yusuf, a shoe dealer, said that he sold between eight and 10 pairs of shoes daily before the rise in patronage.
”But now, I sell between 50 and 60 pairs of shoes daily since the season began.
”Families are preparing for Christmas, so it is a good time for us here,” he said.
Another trader, Austin Nabiu, who deals on second-hand dresses, said that the cost of used clothes increased during the season.
”Apart from the high demand, the rise in foreign exchange rates is another reason for the rise in the cost of used clothes,” he said.
Nabiu said that a pair of shoes which was sold for N1,000, now goes for N2,500.
Awal Sani, a second-hand jewellery dealer, said that he now sells more quantity than he did a few weeks ago.
”We thank God for the season, we have been able to break even as a result of high patronage,” Sani said.
Mrs Agnes Ojo, a mother of two, told NAN that she visited the market to purchase second-hand shoes for her children, revealing that they are cheaper, affordable and more durable than new ones.
”With the harsh economy, it is difficult to buy new shoes that are good, so we have to settle for used ones,” she said.