Traders Seek Yobe Govt’s Support Over Rising Business Costs

Rising transportation prices, fluctuating costs and declining buying energy are placing strain on merchants in Potiskum, Yobe State, prompting them to name on the federal government for assist.

This got here because the city continues to draw retailers and clients from main industrial centres.

The merchants, who spoke in separate interviews with LEADERSHIP, stated restricted entry to capital was additionally constraining their operations, with some calling for reasonably priced loans to maintain their actions and broaden their companies.

One of the merchants, Malam Abdullahi, stated enterprise remained encouraging, with clients travelling from Kano and different locations to purchase items in Potiskum.

“Business is going well. People are coming from Kano and other places to buy goods and we are grateful to God,” he stated.

He, nevertheless, recognized excessive transportation prices, unstable costs, restricted capital and diminished buying energy as main challenges confronting them.

Abdullahi appealed to the federal government to offer loans and different types of monetary help to assist enterprise house owners maintain their operations and contribute to financial progress.

Similarly, Adamu Alhaji Ngalda, a dealer in domestically made plates, stated retailers introduced items from Kano, Maiduguri and different industrial centres to promote in Potiskum.

He described the city as a viable buying and selling vacation spot, noting that retailers continued to usher in giant portions of products to satisfy demand.

“Trading here is better than you might think. People bring in goods in large quantities, sell them and return home,” he stated.

Potiskum is a vital industrial centre in Yobe State, with markets that deal in foodstuffs, family utensils, domestically fabricated metallic merchandise, and car spare components, amongst different commodities.

Its industrial actions additionally assist transport operators, retailers and artisans who rely on each day transactions for his or her livelihoods.

Another dealer, Alhaji Babawuro Me Samira, expressed gratitude for the alternatives accessible to businesspeople and prayed for continued prosperity for merchants and younger individuals.

The city’s established buying and selling hyperlinks supply alternatives for additional funding in agriculture, livestock, transportation, car upkeep and basic merchandise.

However, merchants say entry to reasonably priced financing and enhancements in market infrastructure might assist ease working pressures, strengthen companies and allow them to take higher benefit of the industrial alternatives accessible in Potiskum.