A trader rides his fully loaded motorcycle along Levities roundabout at Central Market in Kaduna yesterday.

Traders in Ilorin have been complaining of low patronage as Christians celebrate Christmas today. Many of the traders attributed it to the austerity in the country and unpaid salaries of workers in the state.

Prices of many commodities were also said to have increased, thereby discouraging many consumers from buying, while others reduced the quantity they would have otherwise bought.

A basket of tomatoes, which was also sold for N2,500 last month, is now selling for N8,000, while the price of a bag of pepper has risen by 100 per cent.

A trader, Mrs. Funmilayo Ajayi, regretted going to the market to display her wares because, as she lamented, sales have been unimpressive for over a week now.