The residents of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja has expressed frustration as food prices soar
A market survey conducted by Nigerian Tribune on Thursday revealed that residents are frustrated due to the increase in prices of staple food items in Abuja.
Miriam Karim, a trader in Karshi market, told Nigerian Tribune that a bag of rice that was sold for N49,000 a few months ago now costs N70,000.
Another trader in Nyanya market, who simply identified herself as Titilayo, said that a few weeks ago, she was selling palm oil at N25,000, but it’s now N31,000 per 25 litres.
She also disclosed that a bag of garri that was selling at N28 is now going for N40,000. She added that beans, a few weeks ago, were sold for N800 per mudu, but it’s now N1,500.
One of the market leaders in Garki market, who gave his name simply as Chair, said prices of food items are skyrocketing because of the crisis in parts of the country.
He said: “Here in North Central Nigeria, farming is the major occupation of the people, and herdsmen are not allowing people to farm. People no longer go to their farms, so it is causing food shortages. The sellers can take advantage to sell at any price of their choice.
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“Government needs to tackle this herdsmen issue or else we will face a major food crisis in the country,” he stated.
In the same Garki market, a buyer, Aza Adinya, lamented about the skyrocketing and unstable nature of prices of food items in the market.
He said: “You will come to the market today, and when you come the next day, prices will change. With this kind of situation, one cannot even plan again, and as the prices are going up, our income is not increasing too.”
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