Traders in Lagos state are lamenting lack of patronage by customers as a result of low purchasing power occasioned by the harsh economic situation in the country.

This, they say, has been worsened by the persistent fuel scarcity in the country which has lingered for so long.

News Express visit to Dopemu market, a suburb in Lagos metropolis, on Friday, showed that all is not well. The market which used to attract a beehive of activities was a shadow of itself. Visitors and customers to the market were usually ruffled each time they visit the market because of the huge crowd it commands.

But, the story is no more the same. And, the expression on the faces of the traders tell of the sorry tale of the present situation, with a few of them (traders) calling on anybody who steps into the market in a desperate bid to make sales.

A trader who spoke to News Express attributed the situation to the leadership style of the current administration. The trader, who identified himself as Michael, complained that sales are usually low and the lingering fuel scarcity is not helping matter.

“Cost of living is very high, everything has gone up and it does not seem like the government is doing anything much to help the situation.”

Continuing, he said: “Before now, a bag of rice is sold for N8,000 but now it is within the neighbourhood of N15,000. A paint measure of wheat is now N1,400 as against N400.”

Asked if the increment was as a result of the lingering fuel scarcity, he responded in the negative but added that the situation may just turn out to be the change that APC government promised Nigerians.

“The increase in the prices of food stuff is not caused by the fuel scarcity but the ‘change’ in government of the Buhari administration and we honestly hope that things will truly change soonest.”

Another trader who runs a provision store who simply identified herself as Jecinta told News Express that the present government may have to come up with a stable economic policy to improve the situation of things in the country.

Similarly, a woman who hawks cold drinks in Agege market lamented that people who patronises her have always demanded for Sachet water as against bottled water and drinks which she equally sell. She pointed that something needed to be done so that the current situation can be improved.

•Photo shows a Lagos market.