Abuja Arts and Craft village
Recession: Art dealers,others decry low patronage in Abuja craft village
NAN-ELS-5
Patronage
By Cecilia Odey
Abuja, March 24, 2017 (NAN) Some art dealers at the Abuja Arts and Craft village on Friday decried the low patronage of merchandise, attributing it to the economic recession in the country.
The village is reputable for the exhibition of cultural artifact, locally made tie and die materials, sculptures, and paintings.
The dealers in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja said that sales had dropped in the last one year.
Mr David Ovre, who deals on locally made bangles, bags, painting works, and wallets produced from cow skin and elephant tusk, said the village was fast losing steam.
He said the village no longer experience influx of people as was the case in the past.
He expressed concern that if the Federal Government does not do something to improve the economy, dealers may have to close shop in the village.
Similarly, Mrs Justina Adebisi who deals in Tie and Dye fabrics said that the situation has been so bad that “Most days, I sell nothing”.
“Sometimes I stay in this shop for five days without selling one item, but I have to keep coming, praying that luck will shine on me some day.’’
Mrs Chidera Smart, a pottery and sculpture dealer said that though the situation was worrisome, she leaves home every day with the belief that God would bring sales to her.
Also speaking with NAN, Mallam Suleiman Danladi, a tailor in the village while bemoaning the situation, said it calls for prayers.
“You can see everywhere is dry as nobody is asking us what we are selling or doing.
“Before now you will see customers coming in and out including foreigners who come here for tourism, but all that has changed.
“I do call some of my customers to ask why they don’t come again to sew and all I hear from them is there is no money,’’ he said.(NAN)
COO/EAL
Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi
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