Low-key celebrations trail Easter

As preparations for the Easter celebration peaked on Saturday, it was complaint galore among Nigerians as they went in tricles to major markets, stores and malls.

When Sunday Tribune visited major business areas around the country, most people lamented  the state of the economy and the negative consequences on the prices of foodstuffs, meat, chicken, among others.

In Kano State, many people trooped out in large number to various markets to purchase food items and other ingredients to celebrate the festive season, but many were disappointed with the high prices of the items.

Sunday Tribune gathered that some of them jointly contributed money to buy either goat or cow to share. At the popular Abubakar Rimi, many buyers were caught unawares with high prices of chicken, which according to them, had “gone out of the reach of the common man.”

It was observed that the a full chicken, which sold between N1,500 and N2,000, before now, went for N3000 or more, with most people, who could not afford chicken, opted for fish.

At Yankura and Tarauni markets, the price of chicken ranged between N2,000 and N2,500.

While speaking with Sunday Tribune, Mrs Sarah Owen, said she had to adjust to the new prices based on the current economic recession.

One Hajia Bintu Ibrahim, who sells food stuff, said the prices of food items, and other things depended largely on what they brought from major markets.

At a popular store that deals in frozen poultry products in Ibadan, it was a steady throng of customers. The queue extended outside the store at some point, but the small crowd quickly dispersed, after customers were promptly attended to.

Interestingly, a few customers were forced to drop their wares, when they realised they could not afford the items.

Here, a kilogramme of frozen chicken sold for N1,200. Speaking with Sunday Tribune, a customer, Mrs Taiwo Ajani, who had come with two of her friends, lamented the state of the economy.

“I had to come here to buy chicken for tomorrow because of the price. Can you believe live chickens at the markets sell for between N3,500 and N4,000.  That is for chicken alone, without adding the price of ingredients to prepare. In this economy, I wouldn’t dare try that. There is school fees to pay after the euphoria of the celebration wears off, so, one must celebrate with common sense. I don’t care how long I have to wait on the queue. I can get double of what I would have bought at the market for more or less the same price, so I’m here.”

Another customer, who simply identified herself as Mrs Chigozie, who had come to purchase chicken with her son, said no matter how things were, any opportunity for celebration shouldn’t be discarded.

In spite of the seeming rise in the cost of poultry products, people still besieged the stands for live chickens. Some persons also made brisk business as they advertised live chickens for sale.

Mrs Abiodun, who sold fried yam, yet displayed live chickens told Sunday Tribune that she collected the chickens from a friend to sell so she could make some extra money, in the spirit of the season.

At the popular Molete Market in Ibadan, Sunday Tribune observed there were trickles of buyers in the market even as some of them lamented that the high cost of chicken, foodstuff and other cooking items compared to previous years. Some of the people who had come to buy chicken could not do so because of lack of fund. Investigations by Sunday Tribune, however, revealed that many people were buying because of lack of fund, which according to them, was largely occasioned by dwindling state of the economy.

When Sunday Tribune attempted to speak with some of the sellers, their reactions suggested they were not favourably disposed to expressing their views due to poor patronage even as they claimed they hoped things would get better as from today.

A few sellers, who spoke with one of the correspondents, at the market, complained bitterly about low patronage, adding that they were optimistic that people would come tomorrow to buy chicken and foodstuff today being Sunday.

“The sales have not been really encouraging. Though, people have been coming to buy but our expectations have not been met. We believe the sales will improve tomorrow (today) when people come around to buy foodstuff and live chicken for the celebrations.”

A customer, who gave her name as Bisola Adebimpe, told Sunday Tribune that she could not buy the chicken because the price was higher than her budget as she would still have to buy other food items.

At the Dugbe market also in Ibadan, it was a different story as more people thronged the market to buy chicken and food items without hesitating. Despite the relatively high cost of the items, the sellers were busy as money exchanged hands.

A customer, Bolanle Adio, informed Sunday Tribune that she was satisfied with the prices of chicken and other foodstuff, but urged the sellers to bring it down for the sake of those who could not afford them.

“I am quite satisfied with prices of chicken and foodstuff but if the sellers could bring them down a bit for the sake of those who could not afford them, I think it would be nice. That I could buy them does not mean others could, so I appeal for reduced prices in the spirit of Easter,” she said.