Tea sellers and ‘Akara'(bean cake) and pap vendors are making brisk business in Kaduna and environs as the harmattan cold bites harder in the city, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
NAN checks in the city found that the residents rush for hot tea, chocolate beverages, noodles, and ”akara” to alleviate the effects of the inclement weather.
Some of the vendors who spoke to NAN correspondent disclosed that the increased patronage accounted for the additional profits they made.
Mr. Nasir Kabir, a tea vendor on the Bida road, said the high demand for hot tea started at the inception of the harmattan in the first week of December 2021.
”Most of my customers are commercial bus and motorcycle operators, laborers and students troop to his stand as early as 6:30 a.m to keep themselves warm.
“The demand has doubled in the last one week and sincerely, I am making huge gains from my business,” he said.
Also, Mr. Isah Gambo another tea vendor at Sokoto Street disclosed that he had to engage two persons to assist him to serve the customers who troop to his stand daily.
“While I focus on preparing the noodles, one of my workers prepares the tea while the other one does the dishes.
“I used to have at least 20 to 30 customers daily but since the harmattan, we attend to over 50 customers daily,” Gambo revealed.
He further disclosed that a cup of tea is between N50 to N100 while a plate of noodles was sold between N100 to N250 depending on the customer’s preference.
Another vendor, Najib Saleh on the Marafa road, said most of his customers are mostly students of the Kaduna State University.
“Usually, during the harmattan, customers most of whom are students come here in the morning to have breakfast before resuming for lectures.
“Others still patronize me in the evenings when the cold intensifies. With this business, I can provide for my family,” Saleh added.
Mr. Musa Anche, a commercial tricyclist, told NAN that he usually leaves his home as early as 6 am to the tea spot before he begins his daily routine.
“As a bachelor, I patronize the tea vendors because of the cold weather,” he said.
Mr. Abdullahi Mujtapha, a motorcycle operator on his part said the nature of his operation exposes him to cold.
”I patronize the tea and noddles vendors to keep myself warm. This weather is very cold, the jacket, head warmer and gloves I wear are not enough to keep me warm,” Mustapha said.
