Residents of Minna, the Niger capital have decried the astronomical rise in the prices of foodstuffs and essential commodities in the markets, lamenting that it was making life unbearable for families.
They said that the prices of foodstuffs in the markets in 2023 were lower than the current year, hence the government’s intervention to stabilize the economy.
A News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) survey in Minna on Monday revealed that many families now found it difficult to eat a balanced diet daily, while others found anything edible to quench hunger,owing to the current economic hardships.
Mr Innocent Ani, a provision shop owner in Abdulkadir Kure Market, said 2023 was better because he sold a 50kg bag of foreign rice for N50,000 and the local rice for N40,000.
He said that the same rice was selling for N85,000 now for the foreign one as the local brand went for N80,000.
Ani told NAN that a roll of 14 grams of peak milk sachet which sold for N750 and N800 in 2023 is now N1,500.
He said that in 2023, 1kg of garri sold for N1,500, saying following the current high cost of living the same commodities are now selling for N2,000.
The trader said that the high cost of living had resulted in low patronage as families now patronised only what to feed on and not ostentatious goods any more.
Malam Anas Usman, a trader in the same market, said that a measure (mudu) of beans which used to cost N1,200 last year was now N3,100 per measure.
A shopkeeper at Minna City-gate, Malam Magaji Ibrahim, said that a medium-sized loaf of bread which increased from N600 to 800 in 2023, was now sold from N1,300 to N1,500 depending on brand name.
Mrs Dorothy Garba, a housewife, who met a NAN correspondent in the market, said that it now took the grace of God for husband and wife who had children not to quarrel on daily basis over high cost of living.
She said, “This small waterproof bag I am carrying here contains foodstuffs of N15,000 but before, I would use two bagco bags to carry food items of N15,000.
”The government should do something to help us because I don’t know where we are heading to.”
Hajiya Hauwa Mohammed, who roasts maize at Mobile Roundabout, Minna said one which used to sell for N100 in 2023 has now been increased to between N200 and N250, depending on bargaining power of the purchaser.
Alhaji Shehu Galadima, Chairman, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) in the state, attributed the increase in the prices of foodstuffs and essential commodities to the current economic downturn, security challenges hindering farmers activities.
Galadima said other factors included climate change, flooding and late intervention by the government as agricultural activities were time-bound.
He advised the government to create a price control board and be proactive in providing inputs and implements at subsidized rates, to ensure all-season farming.
The AFAN chairman called for decisive action against insecurity by the government to attract foreign investors to grow the country’s economy.
In a related development, a market survey in Kogi showed that only the prices of perishable commodities have recorded a drop while others were either stable or on the increase.
At Lokogoma, Adankolo, Koton karfe, Ayingba, Okene, Kabba, Basa, Itobe and Lokoja old markets, only commodities like yam, tomatoes, pepper, Irish and sweet potatoes as well as vegetables have their prices slightly reduced.
NAN