Christmas

Babatunde and his customer in fish price battle.

Inflation is high, cash is scarce, jobs are disappearing but it’s Christmas. So Nigerians are doing what they can to make something out of what used to be taken for granted. Vanguard spoke to some parents and traders in Lagos. Their innovative adjustments reflect the dire economic realities of the country.

Mr Femi is a banker. But he just broke his children’s heart. He was standing before a row of ATMs looking forlorn. Femi said: “The children are asking ‘Where’re our Christmas clothes and chicken?’ I told them maybe next year. ‘For now, you will wear what you have and we will eat panla (fish)’.”

Asked how come a banker has no cash, he said maybe he left it late.

“I couldn’t get money from my bank, ATM or POS. Maybe I wasted time. I’m begging my wife to lend me money right now for the basic things.”

However, even the fish as substitute is beyond reach.

Babatunde has been selling live catfish for years. But on the evening of the last Saturday before Christmas, he still has three big bowls of fishes with no customer in sight. When a housewife with a baby strapped to her back stopped to ‘price’ one, it turns into a long battle.

Babatunde tells Vanguard: “It’s terrible. Just last year, a fish was N1,200. This year, its N1800. No matter how hard a customer bargains, I can’t go lower.

“However, what I have done is buy fewer quantity. Even at that, there are still no buyers. We hope the economy doesn’t get worse.”

How I could cope – Housewife

Mrs Oyebunmi is a tailor. But to contribute more to the family table, she has added POS operation to her CV.

Since her shop has space to spare, you can get sachet (pure) or bottled water to buy.

“Last year, I was doing my tailoring business from home. But I felt like expanding the business. So I took this shop,” a move she now regrets.

"'I take from here to cover there': Nigerians narrate Christmas adjustments" https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/12/i-take-from-here-to-cover-there-nigerians-narrate-christmas-adjustments/amp/