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By Chinyere Anyanwu
For millions of Nigerians, the excitement that usually defines Christmas has been replaced by anxiety, as leaner purses and soaring transport costs have overshadowed the modest relief from cheaper goods.
Consumers, who ought to be upbeat about buying ingredients necessary for the various delicacies the season is known for, are lamenting the scarcity of funds. This has left families counting costs instead of blessings.
They note that though there has been considerable reduction in the prices of major food items and ingredients this season in comparison to last year’s yuletide celebration when the shock of the unprecedented high costs of food products left everyone reeling under its heavy burden.
A check across some markets within Lagos reveal that a 50kg bag of foreign rice which sold for between N100,000 and N110,000 last yuletide season is selling for N75,000 this year while the local brand, which sold for around N90,000 last Christmas is currently selling for N65,000.
A 25-litre jerrycan of vegetable oil, which went for N80,000 this time last year is now selling for N65,000 while a live broiler chicken which sold for between N25,000 and N30,000 same time last year is selling for around N20,000.
A large basket of fresh tomatoes that was bought at the rate of about N90,000 to N100,000 last yuletide season is now selling for between N40,000 and N45,000 while a bag of pepper (rodo) which was bought for between N150,000 and N170,000 this time last year is currently selling for N90,000.
Onion, which was at a record high last Christmas season at N300,000 a bag, is selling for N95,000 this year.
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With the above price list, there is a noticeable and welcome reduction in prices of food items but consumers regret their inability to still afford the kind of Christmas and new year culinary delights they would have wished for owing to highly reduced purchasing power.
Mrs. Ngozi Ogbuagu, a self-employed mother of four, lamented: “Truly, prices of some food items have come down, which is good, but where’s the money to buy them?
“Other living expenses have swallowed the little money in one’s hands. Have you noticed the suffocating rent people are paying these days? It was high before but it got worse this year. My rent was N500,000 per annum before but it was raised to N1.5 million this year. If you don’t like it you move. So now that I have coughed out N1.5 million for rent, where’s the money to buy foodstuffs, no matter how cheap they are?”
According to her, “it’s not just about prices of food products going down, it’s about the entire economy being rejigged.”
Also commenting, a businesswoman, Mrs Veronica Anyanwu, who also expressed joy over the significant reduction of food prices and some other goods said the high transport cost during this season has dampened the joy of yuletide.
“Imagine where transport costs have increased due to what the motorists call “season”. Chartering vehicles now is costlier for interstate services. My foodstuff comes from the north and it’s so pricey now. But I’m glad the prices of goods have dropped. I’m praying for my customers to have money to buy them ”, she said.
Transporters, on the other hand, are smiling to the bank.
“I do hailing service and bookings are much higher these days because of traffic and all that. But people are complaining but I can’t lament”, Jaiye Alade said.
