By Kehinde Aderemi
In Lagos, as in other parts of Nigeria, whenever festive periods approach, prices of foodstuff, fruits and consumables always rise.
But to the pleasant surprise of many, this time, rather than moving up, the prices of food items have reduced significantly.
In separate chats with Saturday Sun, traders have adduced different reasons for the noticeable reduction in the prices of foodstuff. Some of traders said the effect of climate change might have affected the growth of some of the farm produce. The current dry season might also be responsible, some said, adding that during the dry season, farm produce like cassava, yam and some fruits are not always available.
Madam Felicia Joseph, one of the traders at the Mile 12 International market sells bags of yam flour, known as elubo, as well as wheat and garri. She said it was surprising that prices of some foodstuff have actually reduced.
“Now the prices of most of the food stuff have reduced. And we are happy that the situation is not as bad as we used to have in the past. Before now, a bucket of yam flour was sold for N55,000 but it has reduced to N40,000.The Fashola type of measurement has also reduced. The one that was sold N40,000 is now selling for N30,000.
“Wheat is also high in demand because of its health benefits for those that are diabetic. But the prices of both the local and the foreign wheat have not changed. The prices of beans and garri have reduced in the market. For instance, the prices of the different types of beans, including Olo 1 and Olo 2 have reduced tremendously even before the beginning of Ramadan.
“A paint-bucket of the various types of beans is now sold for between N4,000 and N5,000 as against the previous price of N12,000 or N14,000. A bag of garri that was being sold for N50,000 has come down to N47,000,” Madam Felicia Joseph stated.
Also speaking, Chairman of the Rice and Beans Section of the Mile 12 Market, Alhaji Umar Muhammad said the reason for the drop in the prices of the products was the dry season. He added that in February, the prices of beans and rice dropped significantly, noting that they had remained unchanged since then.
“Late last year, a bag of beans was sold at N130, 000, but now it is sold for N120, 000. A bag of guinea corn was sold for N70, 000 before, but it has also reduced to N65, 000 now.
“Like beans, the price of rice has reduced. Both the long and short grains are sold for between N75, 000 and N67, 000. The long grain was sold at N95, 000 but now it is N90, 000.
But the reduction in prices of foodstuff does not seem to affect some fruits. Fruits are usually in high demand during fasting period.
One of the leaders at Ifesowapo Fruits and Vegetables Section of Mile 12 International Market, Mr Ganiyu Ayinla, said the demand for fruits is always higher than the supply, especially during the fasting period.
“Right now, the price of a bag of oranges is higher than what we used to buy. Oranges that we bought at N2000 during the rainy season is now sold for N7000 because we are in the dry season.
“By this time of the year, fruits like watermelon, oranges, mangoes, pineapple and pawpaw are supposed to be available in the various markets. But they are not available. We always have ten trailers of watermelon coming daily to Mile 12, but now we only have two and that is grossly insufficient for the buyers.
“Grape and apples that are mostly imported from abroad are not also available in the market now. The ones produced here in Nigeria are also scarce. Only oranges and cucumbers are available now. A bag of cucumbers was sold for as high as N28,000 before, but now it is sold for N14,000.
“This is the season of tomatoes. In the past, a crate of tomatoes was sold for N25, 000 but now it has reduced to N14,000. The prices of other perishable items have also gone down,” Ayinla stated.
For Madam Adebayo, the reduction in the prices of food is a usual trend. She stated that ordinarily, when products are available, prices would reduce, adding that when the products are scarce, prices will soar.
“The 5kg of Semo here in Mile 12 market was sold at N8, 200, but now, it is sold for N7800. The 10kg was once N16, 000, it is now N15,000. Many of the brands, like Honeywell and Golden Penny have reduced their prices. A pack of Spaghetti which was being sold for N22, 000 is now N20, 000.”
The situation is the same in most of the food markets in Lagos visited by Saturday Sun, including Mile 12, Ketu, Ojuwoye in Mushin and Ayangbunren Market in Sabo, Ikorodu. In all the markets, the prices of food items have reduced significantly.
Mr Adeniyi Joseph is a farmer and auditor, Office of the Iyaloja, Ayangbunren Market. He admitted that, though the prices of foodstuff have reduced, the fasting period has also affected production in the farms across the country.
Joseph said the number of labour force needed for farming usually reduces during the dry season.
“People from the Northern part of the country represent the highest number of the labour force needed mostly in the running of the market. But they are not always available during the Ramadan.
“During the Ramadan, the farm hands usually close for the day by 2pm and you’d see them relaxing in mosques. You hardly see them engaging in any hard labour during this period because they are fasting.
“This non-availability of labour force affects the chain of production, and the supply of any farm produce is also affected. But the prices are reducing gradually and we are very happy and hopeful that it will still go down even more.
“It is noteworthy that prices of foodstuff and perishable items like tomatoes, onions and Bawa pepper have reduced. However, there is the need for the Federal Government to assist the farmers by giving soft loan to boost agriculture and also encourage local production.
“Maize is the major drivers of all grains and farm produce. Before now here in Sabo Market, a kilogramme of maize was being sold for N1, 250 but now it is sold for N650 per kilo.
“The price of maize determines the prices of all other items. It is the most consumed product. Once the price goes up, marketers will shift and focus on alternatives to grain products and those products like guinea corn, soya and even rice would be high in demand.
“The Federal Government should do the needful by encouraging local farmers in order to boost local production. Government should also guard against indiscriminate hoarding of maize and other farm produce. I am a farmer and I know how this slight reduction in the prices of maize and other food items will affect the market forces.
“Farmers should be encouraged to produce more at the local level, because for every grain of rice, wheat or maize we import to Nigeria, we destroy the livelihoods of local farmers while creating jobs abroad. The Federal Government must guard against hoarding of farm produce. I suspect some bad elements are now in the country.
“Their plan is to mop up our maize and soya seed in large quantities and export them to other neighbouring countries for the production of the feeds. They even buy up the farms. You know what it means when farm produce are being hoarded for personal gains.
“It triggers inflation and that could hinder the joy we are experiencing now in terms of reduction in the prices of foodstuff and other food items,” Joseph stated.
Deacon Bayo Obatugashe of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Our Saviour Parish,province 16 Igbo- Olomu, Ikorodu,said the reduction in the prices of foodstuff was as a result of the policy of the Federal Government. He said it is obvious that insecurity has reduced in the north, which means farmers can now go to their farms and produce more food.
“I think security is a major factor responsible for the reduction in the prices of foodstuff, especially, now that the spate of kidnapping and killings has reduced in the country. Farmers can now go to their farms without fear or threat,” he said.
Alhaji Ahmid Otufowora, a businessman at the Sabo Market, Ikorodu said the crash in the prices of foodstuff and other consumables during the month of Ramadan was unexpected. He attributed the cause to the rising value of the Naira.
“As far as I am concerned, the fasting period has nothing to do with the crash in the prices of foodstuff. The major factor is the exchange rate,” he said.
Hajia Khadeejat Ahmad, who sells foodstuff at Ajina Market, Ikorodu, said traders are being forced to reduce prices of foodstuff and other items because there is no money in circulation.
Also speaking, Pastor Sam Babatope of Christ Apostolic Church, Citadel of Grace, Lagos, said the current reduction in the prices of foodstuff is good, but it can still be better.