The price index of food items on Saturday showed a remarkable rise nationwide, as Muslims in the country joined their counterparts across the world to mark the end of the 30-day Ramadan fast.
While most people complained about lack of fund to procure food items and other necessary things, traders also lamented low patronage, even some hike the prices of goods.
A survey carried by Sunday tribune revealed that the worst-hit by the hike in food items and poultry were the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Kaduna, Kano and other states in the northern part of the country,State, where prices went up by about 40 percent.
The Federal Government had declared Monday and Tuesday as public holidays to commemorate the end of Ramadan.
Ibadan traders lament low patronage
A large number of the Ibadan traders lamented low patronage of buyers, even towards the last minutes
Sunday Tribune observed a low turnout of people at the popular Molete market, Ibadan as traders were sad over low patronage, though, the market was relatively lively as buyers came to buy a few things.
A trader, Mrs. Abimbola lamented low patronage, adding, “We are hoping that things would turn around at the last minute. We had envisaged this because of the state of the economy. At least, getting little patronage is better than none. I had sold about six fowls as of this morning. I am hopeful that things would improve before we close.”
Also speaking with Sunday Tribune, another trader, who gave her name as Mama Akeem, described the situation as unfortunate.
The current state of the economy has really affected our business. We hardly meet our expectations because people have not been coming to buy and those who come complained of lack of money,” she said.
At the busy Oja’ba market, people were seen buying and selling at a quick rate but some of the traders, especially the sellers of food items did not get enough patronage.
For the pepper sellers, it was not a good show as some of them also bemoaned the low patronage, blaming it on poor paucity of cash in circulation. Sunday Tribune investigation revealed that a bucket of tomato sold for N1,200 and above.
…Low patronage in Osun as foodstuff sellers maintain existing price
Sellers of foodstuffs in Osun State lamented low patronage, even as the prices of rice, beans and other food items remained stable.
Sunday Tribune gathered that many of the sellers of foodstuffs in Igbonna, Oluode and Ayetoro markets in Osogbo, the state capital were worried over what they termed low sales despite the preparations to celebrate Sallah.
Findings in the markets indicated that a bowl or “congo” of long and short grains of rice still sold for N600 while a bowl measurement of beans was N700.
Similarly, a kilogramme of turkey was still being sold for N1,200 while a life chicken went for N3,000 and N4,000 depending on the size and weight.
A foodstuff seller at Igbonna market, Mrs. Kudirat Akinyele said “the market is very dull. People are not coming to buy from us. The current bad economy may have been the cause. But, we are still selling to few people that come. We expected that we would sell very well today. This is just one or two days to sallah celebration, we don’t see or feel the signs through patronage”.
High cost of goods In Kogi
In Kogi State, prices of goods were a bit up in some of the markets visited by Sunday Tribune.
Visits to the popular Pata market, New markets and other small markets in Lokoja, the state capital showed a slight increase in prices of commodities.
Mostly affected were rice, millet, beans, pepper and other essential commodities needed for the festivity.
It was however learnt that the increment was minimal because of the economic situation and the purchasing ability of the people.
A rice seller at the old market, Husseina Baba, said the patronage recorded was lower than expected and therefore there could not have been appreciable increase in prices of commodities.
Some of the people, who spoke with Sunday Tribune, however, said the recession in the country had affected the celebration.
A deputy director in the state government service, Hamza Ibrahim, said himself and nine others contributed money to buy a small cow that was killed and shared for the festivity.
He said before now only four or five of them used to make such arrangement but had to increase the number and cow reduced.
Customers groan in Abuja…
As usual, the prices of some food stuffs, skyrocketed, while some maintained their old prices in Abuja.
Before the Ramadan celebration, the price of chicken (old layer) was between N1300 and N1500, but yesterday in the market, the same chicken was sold for N1800.
Furthermore, broiler which was initially sold between N1800 and N2000, was sold for N2500.
It was learnt that the prices of rice and beans didn’t increase basically because the demand was not high. It was gathered that people had already bought rice and beans, because the products are not perishable.
During interaction with some customers, Sunday Tribune learnt that the customers were not happy with the hike in the prices of food items, considering the current economic hardship.
One of the customers, Bukar Ibrahim said though he expected the prices of foodstuffs increase, but the margin between the old price and the new one was very high.
Another customer, Aisha Zainab, called on the government to look for ways to ease the economic hardship on Nigerian.
“Most people are came here to buy one or two things but at the same time they cannot buy because the prices are high. The government need to do something to normalize the economy so that the common man can afford food.”
Mrs Nkechi Nwankwo who came to buy chicken, lamented the high price of chicken.
According to her, “I bought the same chicken for N1900 last weekend, but to my surprise, when I came this morning, I was told the price is now N2500, it is unimaginable.”
Prices of food items soar in Kaduna
Prices of food items skyrocketed in most of the markets in Kaduna metropolis and it’s environs.
When our correspondent visited some markets in the central market, Kasuwar Barci and Station, the prices of chicken had gone up.
A chicken trader, who gave his name as Usman Abubakar, at the Central market revealed that an average chicken which sold for N1,200 before sallah, was sold for N2,000.
A lot of people had to contribute money to buy cows and share.
Speaking with Sunday Tribune, Mallam Alhassan Mohammed disclosed he and others had been contributing N5,000 each since January.
“Each one of us contributed N250 that means we saved N250,000 for the cow we bought,” he said.
Also, findings gathered that prices of perishable items equally rose sharply.
For instance, a small rubber of tomatoes, which was sold between N1,000 and N1,200 went for N2,000. A basket of onion, which was sold at N300 and N400, was sold between N600 and N800 on Saturday.
In Kano, people contribute money to buy cows, goats
Most people who trooped to various’ popular markets in Kano State to buy food commodities were disappointed as prices of essential commodities had gone beyond the reach of most people, even as many people blamed the hike on the high rate of dollar exchange. Our correspondent, who visited some markets discovered that the high price of chicken forced many people to contribute money to purchase cows and goats.
It will be recalled that an average chicken at Yankura market which attracted N1,500 and N2,000 was sold between N2,000 andN3,000.
Also at Taraunj market, a live chicken sold between N2,000 and N2,500.
The story was also the same at Hadejia road, where prices of food items were high, unlike before the commencement of Ramadan festival, when the prices of commodities were normal.
Also, many parents, instead of buying new clothes, opted for ‘second hand’ clothes as some of them claimed that they were cheap and durable. One Hajia Aisha Ibrahim, who spoke with Sunday Tribune disclosed that the biting economic condition has had a negative effect on the spending of many people and has forced the prices of commodities to remain high.
Low patronage in Delta
Perishable food item traders in Warri, Delta State bomoaned low patronage despite stability in the prices of food items in recent times.
The traders disclosed their feelings to the Sunday Tribune in some major markets in Warri and its environs.
They said despite the stability in prices of goods, their daily sales was not encouraging, attributing it to the harsh economic situation in the country.
Mr John Joshua, tomatoes seller in Igbudu market, Warri South Local Government Area of the state said though the price of tomatoes fluctuates it had dropped marginally in recent times.
Mr Adami Ali, livestock seller in Jugbale market, Udu Local Government Area, said big rams were sold for N80,000, depending on customer’s bargaining strength as against N70,000 before.
“Smaller rams are sold for between N25,000 and N40,000 while goats, depending on the size, are sold between N15,000 and N18,000.
“The cost of transporting single ram from the North to Warri is between N1000 and N1500 while a bag of feed has increased from N2,500 to N3,500.
Mrs Hannah Agba, Chairperson, Livestock Traders Association, Igbudu market, said the prices of fowls had remained stable.
Lagos transporters lament poor turn out of passengers
Most Lagos transporters who were expecting huge profits from passengers travelling for the Sallah holiday were heard lamenting low turn out of passengers at the weekend.
Our correspondent, who visited major motor parks in Oregun, Ketu and Ojota areas of Lagos witnessed a low turn of passengers as the parks were filled with buses and cars with few passengers hanging around, unsure whether they would be able to travel.
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