Flood: Prices of food items soar in Benin markets

PRICES of some food items including livestock have increased in some markets in Benin due to flooding in parts of the city, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

A survey conducted by NAN also revealed that apart from the increase in prices of food items, meat was also not available in markets such as Uselu, Ekiosa, Oba and Egor.

Many residents who patronise the markets are opting for fresh and frozen fish following the non-availability of beef.

Some traders in the markets told NAN that heavy rain, which caused flooding made it impossible and unhygienic to slaughter animals at the abattoirs.

An average size chicken that was sold for N5, 000 now goes for between N5, 500 and N6, 000 depending on the bargaining power of the buyer.

At the Oba market, a basket of onions which was sold for N16, 000 last week was now selling for N20, 000, because of lack of sun to prevent them from going bad.

At Ekiosa market, a small basket of tomatoes which was sold for N9, 000 now sells for N10, 000.

Ovie Ehigator, a yam trader attributed the high prices of food items to the high cost of transportation, adding that most of the yams sold in Benin were from the North.

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According to him, the rains have made it difficult for traders to travel regularly to replenish their stock.

butcher Osayuwa Shama, a meat seller attributed the non-availability of beef in the market to the fact that cows were not slaughtered regularly due to flood in the area.

He said that after the rainy season, the prices of livestock would fall.

NAN reports that some parts of Benin have been taken over by flood due to weeks of continued rainfall.

The areas include Uselu Shell, Textile Mill, Obakhawaye, Oluku, Ugbowo, Uwasota.