President’s corruption war affecting London market where Nigerians used to ‘spend anyhow’

A market in London is said to be suffering poor sales due to the anti-corruption war of Nigeria’s new President, Muhammadu Buhari.

East London’s Sunday market, which is also known as Liverpool Street Market, is experiencing a drastic reduction in patronage, according to a Daily Trust report.

“When the going was good, a lot of Nigerian customers bought assorted items in bulk and opted for door- to- door courier or cargo delivery in Nigeria,” a textile salesperson in the market told Daily Trust.

“In the past, Nigerians used to come here and spend (money) anyhow. But now only a few come and they spend very little. In many shops, 90 percent of sales are by Nigerian customers. So you can see why the businesses are folding up,” a shop owner, Chief (Mrs) Franca Aina also said.

The New York Times had reported in October that Buhari’s war against corruption was affecting the sales of luxury cars and houses in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja.

“There’s no money now, no money. Contracts aren’t going on now, everything is standing still. When contracts are going on, people are getting contracts and doing their, you know, thing,” a car dealer at Coscharis Motors in Abuja, Happiness Adibe, told the Times.

Buhari has said that his government will prosecute everyone found guilty of corruption, a sentiment that was also recently mirrored by his deputy, Yemi Osinbajo who said that there would be no sacred cows in the anti-graft war.

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Meanwhile, Nigeria’s former Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke was recently detained in London on allegations relating to money laundering.

READ: Diezani Alison-Madueke is innocent

Mrs Alison-Madueke is alleged to have made away with billions of dollars in oil funds which were looted during her tenure.

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