In Osun State, checks in some markets within Osogbo metropolis revealed prices of many locally produced food items remained high.
At Oluode, one of the major neighborhood markets in Osogbo, a module of garri goes for N1, 200, while a bag of local rice that was sold for N50, 000 last week, currently sells for between N55,000 and N57,000.
Cost of pepper has also remained high, the situation blamed on high cost of transportation from the North where buik of the item was being brought to the state.
Sokoto markets
In Sokoto State, residents lamented the rising cost of foodstuffs continue to rise in the market. According to them, a plate of white beans now sells at the rate of N3,000 while a plate of garri which was sold for N2,200 a few weeks ago now goes for between N2,500. Millet, which is the most commonly consumed food in the state has also moved above N2,000.
It was a similar scenario in Ilorin, Kwara State, where the prices of foodstuffs continue to soar. In Baboko and Mandate markets W showed that a bag of beans was sold at N135,000 instead of N129,000 two weeks ago. A bag of guinea corn which previously sold for N52,000 was sold at N57,000, while a plastic of garri has increased from N15,000 to N17,000.
It was observed that a small bag of yam flour now costs N160,000 while a big bag sells at N280,000, indicating a sharp increase from what it was a few months ago.
The price of six average-size tubers of yam was between N8,000 while the big tubers of yam were sold at between N13,000 and N15,000. A foodstuffs dealer at Baboko market, Mrs Rodiat Mustapha said the cost of transportation is one of the factors responsible for the high cost of food.
In Niger, traders still blame the dollar for the hike in food prices. For instance, at the Thursday Market and the Kure Market, customers were seen complaining about the cost of food, but the traders said they were not to blame.
“It is not our fault. We also want the items to come down in their prices because there is low patronage. But we buy at very expensive rates too,” Hauwa said.
The PUNCH investigation revealed that a kilogramme of cow meat sells for N5,000 while chicken sells for between N6,500 and N8,000, depending on the location. It was also observed that fish has gone above the purchasing powers of the common man as one medium-sized sardine now goes for about N3,000.
At the markets in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, the prices of food items also remain high. A measure of garri which was sold for N500 or N600 in December is now N1,200.
A trader at Oja Oba, who identified herself as Dupe, said, “A measure of beans is now N2,000. It was like N700 before the subsidy removal. We sell as we buy, we are not the problem”.
Also, a yam seller at the Okesha Market, Bimbo, explained that the prices of five tubers of yam rose from N2,500 last year to N6,000. She said the price hike applied to all commodities because of the high transport cost.
“We now sell five litres of palm oil at the rate of N6,000. It used to be N2,500 before subsidy removal. May God come to our aid,” the trader prayed.
Meanwhile, the government at the three tiers have been advised to support farmers with accountable and transparent incentives while encouraging farming by enabling farmers to secure mechanised farming tools in farm clusters.
