How Local Businesses Brace Challenges of Area Boys To Boost Daily Sales Through Night Trading
In the face of harsh economic realities and sluggish daytime sales, a growing number of micro business owners in Lagos have turned to night trading to bolster their daily revenue.
The traders strategically chose locations that enhance their visibility, typically roadsides, besides the bus terminals, and railway lines to display their goods ranging from basic needs to non-essential products.
Source: Getty Images
The thriving night markets are scattered throughout the metropolis, with hotspots in areas such as Orile Iganmu, Oshodi, Ojuelegba, Abule-Ado, Ikotun, Igando, Lagos-Ota Toll Gate, Yaba, Ketu, Maza Maza, among others.
According to some of the market traders who spoke to Legit.ng they trade at night in order to meet up the needs of millions of working class Lagosian who could not shop during the day because of their work schedules.
Others said that the removal of fuel subsidy, along with weak sales, meant they had to abandon their shops for the streets.
PAY ATTENTION: Donate to Legit Charity on Patreon. Your support matters!
One of the trader Basirat Muna in an interview with Legit said:
“I have been selling at Ojuelegba for the past 20 years. We sometimes sell late into the night because of low turnover during the day; the motivating factor is the late arrival of workers on their onward journeys to their various homes.
Another trader, Ifeanyi Ike, who deals in clothes, also said that his daily sales have dropped drastically.
"I open my shop at 8 am every day and close at 10 pm. I have to work long hours because of the situation in the country. Many of my customers are no longer coming, and some of them, whom I know personally, have told me that their earnings are just enough for food and transportation.
The economy is tough. I have a shop, but I still come out to the roadside at 7 pm to display my merchandise, hoping to attract customers."
Source: Getty Images
The area boys headache
As local business owners adapt to the night-time market to offset sluggish daytime sales, they are face with another challenge posed by "Area boys," who hold sway and wield influence.
According to Ike the biggest challenge trading at night is the daily fees to persons who claim they represents the local government.
He explained:
"Everyone here pays a fee to be able to display their goods every evening, even if you are standing and hawking, you must pay.
"The fee varies between N100 and N1,000. On market days, which are Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, you would be required to pay N1,000. But on other days, the due is lesser.
A fruit seller at Igando who gave his name as Afeez also confirmed the daily payment.
"We all have spots where we display our wares. The money is like protection and a permit to sell for the day. Sometimes I pay N500; other times, N400, if I can successfully plead my case.
"I lost my shop two years ago, and I have been surviving selling everyday from 6pm to 11pm."
Checks by Legit.ng shows that most of the taxes collected ends up with the collectors and do not get to the Lagos Internal Revenue Service.
Source: Legit.ng
