By; FUNMI ADERINTO, Kaduna
The prices of foodstuffs and other essential commodities have skyrocketed in most markets across the country.
It is difficult to say what is actually responsible for the increase which has systematically affected sales of goods.
As sellers cry over low demand, consumers complain of increase in food prices which prevent them from buying what they need.
New Nigerian Online observed that prices of foodstuff at the Mogadishu Layout, Kaduna Central Market has gone too high for the average Nigerian to afford.
According to Grace Matthew who was spotted there while trying to purchase foodstuff, things are expensive in the market. “Everybody is complaining. We are only pleading with the Nigerian government to assist us,” she said.
Speaking with Alhaji Ali Dauda, a trader along Ibrahim Taiwo Road, he said the price of commodities are not stable, as a result of this, traders do not invest much in purchasing items into their shops so that they might not trade at a loss.
Also at the Mogadishu Layout in Central Market, the market Auditor, Alhaji Musa Badiko said a bag of small beans goes for N33,000 as against the initial N32,500 while a bag of big beans sells for N27,500 as against the former price of N28,000.
A bag of millet costs N17,500 as against N18,000. A bag of soya beans sold at N15,000 as against N15,500. A bag of Guinea Corn costs N16,500 as against N17,000.
“I don’t have a bag of beans in my shop because of the price. Although, people consume beans a lot, yet it is very expensive and it affects the sales.
“Now, a bag of rice is sold for N16,500 against the initial N17,000. Some people said government’s restriction from importing this particular product has affected it,” he said.
Further investigations by New Nigerian Online revealed that the prices of a bags various brands of rice have gone up to between N18,500 and N17,000 as against the former prices of between N14,000 and N14,500.
Some traders attributed some of the reasons for high cost of transportation and personal costs incurred by retailers from suppliers.
The survey also showed that the price of perishable goods like UTC tomatoes have gone up with a big basket of the commodity selling for between N6,500 and N6,700 as against the former price of between N3,500 and N4,000.
Derika tomatoes sold at N4,500 and N4,000 as against N2,500 and N2,700. Prices of King vegetable oil 25 litres now cost N14,500 and N13,800 as against N15,000 and N14,500, its initial price.
Palm oil 25 litres now costs N12,000 as against N12,500 depending on the brand, while a bag of big beans now sells for N28, 000 as against the former price of N27,000.
Ahmed Mai Abuja, a trader in the town said that a bag of onions now sells for N6,500 as against the former price of N6,000.
According to him, the economic situation of the country is so unbearable that, they don’t even know what is going on in the country anymore.
“Everything is low in terms of sales. I am confused. I don’t know if it is the economy, this is because people are complaining of not having enough money. There is no market, yet things are expensive,” he wondered.
