Tough times have caught up with most Nigerians as they lament the rising cost of foodstuff and other commodities due to inflation. From insecurity to job losses and salary cuts, many say their purchasing power is on the decline while the prices of food items continue to soar. Here is the situation in some states:
In Benue State, ordinary Nigerians have lamented the rising cost of food items, with most of them saying they could no longer cope.
Rose Oche said, “The truth is that I don’t know how I’m coping. It even amazes me sometimes that I have come this far. The price of every food item in recent times has gone beyond the reach of ordinary people. The only thing that hasn’t increased is salary.”
“Some food items haven’t just doubled in price, but tripled. You can imagine that half basin of garri which sold for N3, 000 last year now goes for about N15, 000, while a custard bucket of tomatoes which sold for N500 last year now sells for N2, 500.”
A tomato trader at the high-level market, Chide Attah, lamented that the increasing cost of food items on daily basis was frightening.
Insecurity, job losses in Kaduna
Prices of grains across Kaduna markets have continued to rise despite the low purchasing power of most Nigerians.
Farmers have attributed the increase in the high cost of farming materials, including seedlings, fertiliser and chemicals. Others, however, attribute it to the security problems in the state; with many farmers being unable to access their farms for fear of being killed or kidnapped.
Our correspondent who visited the Bakin Dogo market in Kaduna reports that as at Wednesday, June 24, 2021, a bag of sorghum, maize and guinea corn cost N25,000 each, while soya bean cost N35,000 and bean cost N56,000. Local rice and foreign rice were sold at N26, 000 and N30, 000 respectively.
Mustapha Ibrahim, a grain seller at the market, said six months ago a bag of bean sold for N30,000, while soya bean sold for N25,000 and sorghum and guinea corn sold for N21,000 each.
According to him, the purchasing power of most residents had declined due to job losses and salary cuts.
Ibrahim Birnin Yero, a maize farmer who can no longer access his farm due to insecurity, called on government to find a lasting solution to the security challenges to avoid the already looming food scarcity in the country.
Lamentations in Plateau
Auwalu Yatata, a trader in Anguwan Rogo in Jos, who confirmed the high increase in the prices of food items, expressed worry over the situation, saying prices had become unpredictable.
Yatata said, “A bag of sugar that we used to buy at N12, 000 is now N19, 500. The price of flour has also risen to N16, 000 from N10, 000. This is the same challenge with other commodities.”
Prayers in Kogi
Residents of Kogi State say they have resorted to prayers for better days ahead.
According to many residents, the prices of commodities have become unpredictable, and a survey carried out by our correspondent showed that the prices in Lokoja, the state capital, have risen by at least 30 per cent.
Madam Habibat Usman said a measure of bean that sold for N800 about two weeks ago was now N1,000.
High prices, dwindling revenues in Kwara
In Kwara State, residents are groaning under the biting economic situation and the rise in the cost of food items. Some of them who spoke to Daily Trust Saturday lamented the continuous rise in the prices of commodities despite dwindling revenues.
According to Baliqees Akande, a trader, a bag of 5kg Semovita which was N1,600 is now N2,200, while yam that sold for N1,000 has tripled to N3,000, and…
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