Hikes In Prices Of Cardigans, Jackets, Socks, Others As Harmattan Bites Harder In Kano -By Isma’il Umar Fati

Harmattan is a season which many researches say often occurs in West Africa within the end of November to mid March every year, but in Kano, it is a different ball game. As early as October this year, the season has already began and as usual, the heavy cold is already chasing people to early bed and coming out in the morning has become a problem. To survive this weather, experts have advised on the need to wear clothes that always keeps the body warm and the use of moisturizer to prevent dry skin.

The harsh weather has all of a sudden made people to develop apathy to bathing and this is not to talk about the dust and dry air which attacks the nose, causes dehydration and keeps the skin dry. As a result of this, the demand for cardigans, jackets, socks, lips balm, body and hair cream is high which has in turn affected the cost of these commodities.

As some people take advantage of the season to explore the business opportunities, others are crying for the high cost coupled with the unfriendly nature of the nation’s economy.

Abdullahi Saudat, a mother of three from Kano state, lamented on sudden rise of price of cardigan and other harmattan necessary materials she had to get for her children.

“I went to the market to buy cardigan for my children. To my surprise, N10,000 could not suffix. Something that was sold last season for N3,000, now cost as little as N5,000”

A civil servant with 5 children, Yahaya Abbas, said the discomforting part of harmattan is the need to buy more foodstuffs than before. He specifically complained about hiked price of food and the much consumption of water as a result of dehydration.

Meanwhile, Nura Sada, a cardigan trader said the season has always given traders like himself opportunity to make money.

“All year long, the sales is low. But with harmattan we can always make enough money to do tangible project in our lives

For example, after last year harmattan sales, I used the profit to purchase commercial tricycle, which is now another stream of income for me

What we do is we always stock in June or August at much cheaper price, to increase our profit, when the season start”

On the hike in price of cardigan, Sada explained that it is as a result of economic downward. “We do not exploit our customers. We also buy way cost than what we use to buy”

Isma’il Umar Fati wrote from Kano.