In Maraba, a key transit point for National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members heading to the Yikpata Orientation Camp in Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State, local traders have seized the opportunity to boost business.
A visit to the area revealed a sharp rise in commercial activity, with vendors prioritizing the sale of essential items such as plastic buckets, bowls, and sponge cases—products commonly needed by corps members making the journey, which typically lasts over two hours.
Many traders were seen crowding the park’s first gate, targeting new arrivals from various parts of the country. One of them, Fatimah Abdulsalam, whose family runs a shop nearby, shared that the season has provided a much-needed sales boost amid declining patronage in recent weeks.
Young helpers, like 12-year-old Mohammed, were also actively assisting their parents with sales before the school term resumes fully.
Findings indicate that prices of basic items have surged, in some cases more than doubled. A large plastic bucket that once sold for N1,200 now goes for N2,500, while smaller buckets have jumped from N1,000 to N2,000. Plastic bowls and soap cases now cost around N500 each.
When asked about the price hike, one trader defended the action, saying, “We take advantage of the moment, but we still offer regular prices to others. It often depends on how well one can negotiate.”
