N50 bottled water sells for N300 in Abuja ‘because of APC national convention’
Traders have taken over all the roads leading to Eagle Square, the venue of the All Progressives Congress (APC) 2022 National Convention holding on Saturday.
A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) covering the event reports that the traders came from within FCT Abuja and other parts of the country.
The traders were observed making brisk businesses in various wares like clothing materials, sachet and bottled water, food items, footwear and other consumables.
The price of bottled water which was sold between N100 and N200 in the morning, rose to N300 in the afternoon, with traders blaming the price increase on scarcity. The products usually sell for N100 and can go as low as N50 in some areas.
Traders of various APC branded shirts, caps, flags and other party apparel were also sighted making high sales.
“We are here to show our support to the APC, as well as make some money from the sale of our food.
“The market has been moving on fine, and so far, so good,” a food vendor, Halima Salisu said.
A dealer of clothing materials, Ilyasu Ibrahim, said that the event had provided them with a “booming market”.
NAN also observed the presence of operatives of various security agencies like the police, SSS, police bomb disposal units, NSCDC, and military, among others.
There are also various emergency services being provided at the venue like first aid and ambulance services.
Personnel of the Federal Roads Safety Commission (FRSC) were also seen manning the various roads and intersections around the venue.
NAN also reports that pickpockets and other hoodlums had infiltrated the Eagle square and its environs.
A truckload of some of them, who were apprehended by the police and NSCDC operatives, were seen being taken out of the venue through the presidential gate.