Social and commercial activities have picked up in Bauchi metropolis after the two-day public holiday to mark the Eid-el-Kabir celebration.

A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) who monitored the situation on Thursday in Bauchi, reports that activities in commercial places such banks, markets and motor parks had resumed in full swing.

Malam Usman Jamda, a transport worker at the Muda Lawal Motor Park, said the park was full to capacity, as people were traveling back to their various working places, while others were going back to their places of abode.

“Transportation services are back after the Sallah celebrations as passengers are trooping to the park to travel far and near,” he said.

NAN reports that the situation was the same at the Wunti Market, as traders had openned their shops for normal trading activities.

Alhaji Garba Akuyam, a trader, said that businesses had returned as usual in the market.

“You can see the movement of people in the market is high, some are going out, some are coming in to do their transactions,” he said.

Miss Gladys Emmanuel, a saloon operator, at the market, said she enjoyed appreciable patronage since since she openned her saloon. 

“Since I arrived at my shop at about 8:00 am, customers could not allow me to rest, all these women are waiting to be attended,” she said. 

Also, Ibrahim Kadiri, a messenger at the state Secretariat, said that some workers had reported to work.

“Actually the turnout was poor, maybe because tomorrow is also Friday which is usually half day here, I believe full resumption would be on Monday,” he said

However, livestock sellers were not recording good sales as against the high patronage of the animals during the Sallah festivities.

Hafizu Salman, a ram dealer, said they were not making good sales, describing the market condition as “discouraging.”

He said he was waiting for buyers to come and expressed the hope that the market condition would improved as the demand increased.

“The low patronage this year could be linked to increase in the price of animals.

“The hike in prices made ram and other animals beyond the reach of most families in the area,” he said.