Coronavirus: Bureau de change operators worry over low patronage

Following the outbreak of Coronavirus in some parts of the world, Bureau de Change operators in Kaduna have expressed concern over low patronage since the outbreak of the disease.

Some of the operators said in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) on Monday in Kaduna that the demand for foreign currencies is now low.

Alhaji Alhassan Muhammed of Hamdalla Kusalla Bureau de change in Kaduna, said the the low patronage had affected their business since the outbreak of the disease in China.

According to Mohammed, most  of his customers have suspended trips to foreign countries for businesses of any sort.

“Our business is not moving because we believe that any time a country is facing any epidemic, people are not allowed to visit the country nor are those in other countries allowed to move out. This is to prevent the spread of the disease.

“Most of our business is with people going to China and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

“We make more profits from those doing business in China, but because of this disease, most of them have stopped going there so as not to contract the disease.

“The business has come to a standstill because of Coronavirus, the outbreak is really affecting our businesses.”

According to him,  the world must unite in prayers as the search for an effective cure continues.

Mohammed called on the Nigerian government to ensure that it protects the citizens and prevent Coronavirus from spreading.

“The government should ensure that those who travelled out and are returning to the country are properly scrutinized and certified safe before leaving their points of entry into the country,’’ he added.

Alhaji Mohammed DanAuta, the Public Relations Officer, Northern Nigeria Association of Marketers, also said the disease has had an adverse effect on businesses, because Nigerians have huge business transactions with China.

“So the outbreak of coronavirus has really affected us because most businessmen are afraid of going to China and those from China are not allowed to visit other countries.

“It is even against the teachings of Islam for anyone to travel out of an area where there is an epidemic or for someone to visit such a place. So this has really affected the business.

“Even big Nigerian business entrepreneurs that engaged in businesses with China are afraid of going there to import goods. Some of them have also increased the prices of their goods due to its shortage in the market,’’ DanAuta said.

Malam Ibrahim Abdullahi, another businessman who sales phone accessories in Abubakar Gumi market Kaduna, said he has run out of stock, as most  of his products came from China.

“As a result of this Coronavirus we can no longer go to China to bring the goods directly.”

Mr John Moses, an international businessman who travels to Europe and parts of Asia regularly to supply goods to his customers, said he is taking a rest for now, until it is healthy and safe to travel.

He noted that most of his friends that usually travel abroad to purchase goods have also suspended any international travels till further notice.

Moses said, “it’s dangerous to move out of Nigeria for any business to avert transporting this dangerous disease to Nigeria.”

He urged Nigerians to halt any business transactions with any international country “until everything is under control.”

Similarly, an Ambassador of peace and interfaith specialist, Hajiya Ramatu Tijjani, noted that some members of her organisation had suspended a trip abroad for an international conference.

Tijjani advised Nigerians to improve on their personal hygiene while appealing for more sensitisation on Coronavirus in rural areas. (NAN)