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By Vivian Onyebukwa
The festive season is upon us. And expectedly, in Nigeria, prices of basic food items have continued to go up astronomically.
Food prices in Nigeria have continued to soar on daily basis. More worrisome for many people is the fact that staple food items like rice, garri, tomato, beans, yam and others items have gone beyond the reach of many Nigerians.
Now, that Christmas is very much around the corner, a visit to the market by Saturday Sun for a market survey showed that food items have gone up and will continue to rise as Christmas draws closer.
For instance, a carton of Orobo chicken lap is sold at N45,000, while a carton of normal chicken lap goes for N52,000.
For fish, a carton of Panla is N37,000, Cote, N65,000, Sharwa, N62,000, Titus, N147,000, Argentina N9,000, and Crocker fish, N88,000.
A big life fowl goes for N25,000, and even more.
Also, when Saturday Sun visited Capitol Cattle Market in Agege area of Lagos where goats and other livestock are sold, the prices of goats ranged from N80,000 to N150,000, according to the sizes.
Rice is no longer a staple food for the masses. There are different prices per bag according to the variety. Ken G goes for N63,000, OPPI is sold at N105,000, while long rice is sold for N110,000, among others.
Recently, the price of groundnut oil began to rise. A bottle of Kings brand sold at N1,500 few weeks ago has gone up to N3.000.
A paint bucket of white beans is now N9,5000. The species called Oloyin goes for N10,000 for a paint bucket, while the drum species of beans goes for N8,5000 also for a paint bucket.
The price of garri has not come down since the last few months; instead it keeps going up. A paint bucket sold for N2,800 few weeks ago, now sells for between N3000 and N3,200 in different areas.
A big basket of fresh tomatoes at Mile 12 market is N50,000 compared to what it is sold for at Ikotun market, which is N55.000. Also, the medium size basket of tomatoes at Mile 12 is N30,000 and N35,000 at Ikotun market. A big sack of fresh pepper at Mile 12 market costs N45,000, while at Ikotun it is N55,000.
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One of the sellers at Ikotun market explained why the prices are different in some markets. “When we buy at Mile 12 market, we pay N1,000 to Keke, and another N1,000 to those that would help us to get the items to the vehicle that would convey us. That is why it is a bit higher here than what you get at Mile 12 market where we buy from.”
A tuber of yam ranges from N2,000 to N7,000, depending on the size. However it is a bit cheaper at Mile 12 and Abule-Egba markets because many of the food items come from different parts of the country. At Mile 12, yams are sold in bulk, which makes it cheaper than some other markets.
Also expensive now is palm oil, and many are worried that the price might even go up as Christmas draws nearer. As at last month, a bottle of palm oil was N1,000. But as the time of writing this report, it has gone up to N2,000. And it is expected to go higher.
The price of Spaghetti ranges from N1,000, N1,200 and N1,300 a packet depending on the brand.
Onion, too is not cheap. Currently, a bag is N180,000 or more.
Bread, another staple food, jumped from N750 to N1,500, N1,7000, and N2,000 for a jumbo loaf.
A survey at different markets shows that a crate of eggs is now being sold for as much as N5, 500 to N6, 000. A wholesaler of eggs predicted that it might get to N7,000 by Christmas, because of high demand. “A lot of people buy eggs to bake cake, bread, other confectionaries, and even prepare salad. That is why the price soars during festive seasons.”
Samuel Okonkwo, who sells rice, beans, and garri at Cele market, Lagos lamented while speaking to Saturday Sun: “Day to day, month to month, the prices of food items continue to go up. They will still go up few days to Christmas. It has always been like that. At this rate, some may not even be able to buy rice and meat for Christmas celebration. It is sad. Government should try to look into this food situation. These days, some families are not even talking about other basic needs, but how to feed. I feel pained about the situation”.
Esther Okon who also deals in food items at Ijegun market, Lagos, identified some of the major causes of high cost of food items. They include high cost of transportation fares, and rate of dollar exchange. She regretted that the situation has affected their business. “The surge in the prices of food items is becoming worrisome. Before now, one must have started feeling the air of Christmas. Business is not moving well because, people don’t have enough money to stock food items for Christmas period, especially those who are travelling for the celebration.”
“The government should declare a state of emergency on food items. A lot of families can’t afford a meal in a day these days. The level of beggars on the street is becoming alarming,” said Tony Chidi, a business man in Lagos.
Expressing his concern about the situation, Lanre Ojora, a welder at Cele Bus stop, Lagos said: “I am aware that the government has come up with some programmes and interventions to tackle food insecurity in the country. I urge them to put more effort in salvaging the situation. People are really suffering.
“Talking about Christmas, how many families can afford to buy even a derrica cup of rice for that day?”
Equally expressing her anger, Rose Chidi blamed traders for this woe. “I know that the economy is bad, which has affected virtually the prices of everything, but the citizens are also not helping matters. They inflate the prices of goods.”
She narrated her experience when she went to Ola Market at Itire, Surulere to buy plantains. “You need to see the huge bunch of plantain I bought at N2,600. It was cheaper than what they sell in ordinary markets. Imaging a finger of roasted plantain goes for between N500 and N700. This is ridiculous.”
She wondered why sellers would sell at exorbitant prices even when they bought at far cheaper prices.
