Costs of essential food items have gone up by no less than 30 per cent between December and April in no less than eight states, according to surveys by our correspondents.
The development has made customers groan, saying the hikes within the costs of products have affected their budgets.
Costs of food items have continued to soar throughout the nation regardless of the latest rebound of the naira.
This got here as President Bola Tinubu not too long ago vowed to make sure a rebound of the native forex mirrored within the costs of commodities.
As a follow-up to the President’s choice, operatives of the Federal Competitors and Consumer Protection Commission last week raided some Abuja supermarkets over unfair pricing, vowing to increase the clampdown to other states.
Nonetheless, the newest findings by our correspondents confirmed that the costs of basic food items like beans, and garri had risen by no less than 30 per cent.
The surveys had been carried out in Lagos, Ogun, Gombe, Kwara, Sokoto, Ekiti, Osun and Niger states.
Prior to now few months, the costs of main food items have continued to rise, particularly after Tinubu eliminated the petrol subsidy and devalued the naira. Because the nation’s inflationary stress deepens, Nigerians have been discovering it troublesome to place meals on their tables. This turned aggravated when the naira fell sharply towards the dollar and other foreign exchange just like the CFA between February and March.
Because the naira appreciated within the overseas trade market these days, there have been excessive expectations that the costs of food items, which went up alongside the dollar, would additionally comply with a downward pattern out there. Nonetheless, findings by our correspondents confirmed that solely the costs of rice had up to now decreased.
As of Wednesday, findings confirmed that the costs of beans, garri and different food items remained excessive regardless of the naira appreciation.
Our correspondents who visited varied markets in some states gathered that merchants and sellers had been lamenting over the excessive price of meals objects; although the costs differ relying on the placement.
In line with the surveys, a bag of garri now sells at N41,000, up from N37,000 in lower than two weeks in the past. In January, it was round N31,000. This means a 31 per cent enhance.
Equally, a bag of 1 kilogramme of Semovota which went for N700 in December now goes for N1,400. This represents a 100 per cent enhance within the value. Additionally, one kilogramme of wheat which went for N500 in December is now being bought for N1,200. This means a 140 per cent hike.
Additionally, findings confirmed that in January, a bag of beans went for between N65,000 and N70,000. Nonetheless, as of Wednesday, a bag of beans went for N185,000. This means a 164 per cent enhance.
The event signifies that the least enhance recorded within the class of fundamental and important food items is 31 per cent; this was seen within the value of garri.
Customers groan
The state of affairs has made customers in varied components of the country lament the hardships attributable to the worth hikes.
Talking to The PUNCH, a resident of Isolo, Mr Rafiu Adedoja, complained that the worth of a wrap of his favorite meal, amala, had elevated.
In line with him, because of the nature of his work as a bricklayer, he eats each day at a well-liked canteen. He lamented that he used to purchase a wrap of amala for N100 however now he buys at N200, noting that the portion has turn out to be smaller.
He famous that he now buys no less than 5 wraps which is N1,000, excluding the meat which brings the price of his meal to between N1,600 and N2,000 which isn’t economical for him given the current state of the financial system the place jobs are available in trickles.
Additionally chatting with our correspondent, a mother of 4, who’s a hairdresser within the Okota area of Lagos, Mrs Bola Adekunle, decried that almost all of the food items out there particularly garri, beans, groundnut oil, and even yam had increased which was affecting so many people especially low-income earners like her with children to feed.
She informed our correspondent that food costs had been turning into insufferable and getting worse each day.
“We eat as soon as a day now, but when I file larger gross sales, we are able to eat twice. Within the final two months, I can’t remember the last time that my family ate three square meals,” Adekunle moaned.
An industrial chemist, Mr. Harrison Chinaka, mentioned, “It is rather apparent that there was a steady and fast hike within the costs of goods out there. I imply each foodstuff out there; the costs are growing virtually each hour
“You discover out that what you purchased within the morning by the point you get there within the afternoon or night, they may inform you that the worth has modified. I purchased a paint of garri less than two weeks in the past for about N2, 900 and three days after I went to purchase the same amount of garri and I used to be informed it now goes for N3,500
“The same thing applies to bread and provisions, the costs of every little thing are growing and it’s not as if salaries are being elevated and it’s turning into troublesome for an average Nigerian to cope particularly somebody with a family. The individual has to pay college charges, house rent and continuously pay bills, it’s turning into troublesome to outlive right here in Nigeria,” he mentioned.
Additionally talking, Mr. Prosper Dike, mentioned, “As for me what I’ll say is that the costs of commodities now are not the same as it’s was once earlier than. As an illustration, a bag of rice has gone larger than what it was once. How do you count on us with our supply of revenue that has not elevated, how will we meet up contemplating the way in which issues are going?”
Declaring that the worth of the greenback had depreciated to the naira in latest occasions, an element that a lot of merchants blame for the hike in meals costs, Dike questioned why costs of meals are but to scale back.
“If there’s something the government can do to assist because the situation is choking, the price of dwelling now just isn’t simple. Individuals can’t afford three sq. meals a day once more as a result of issues have gone up. Though the dollar has come down issues are but to return down,” he lamented.
A businesswoman, Tomisin Sunday, lamented that the hikes within the costs of foodstuffs had remained main her to scale back the amount of meals she buys throughout her weekly grocery buying.
Sunday, who outlets on the standard Iyana-Iba market alongside the Lagos-Badagry Expressway mentioned that as of Wednesday, the costs of tomatoes had come right down to N2,400 for a custard bucket however that pepper was nonetheless so costly.
“The value of ginger has refused to return down although. It was N11,000 right this moment. Final week, it was N13,000. I exploit it for my Zobo drink, which I promote. At this price, I could also be unable to maintain promoting on the present value that my prospects are used to.
“As for foodstuffs, I come to the market pretty repeatedly as a result of issues are too costly and my cash just isn’t normally sufficient. At this level, I’m doing enterprise simply to have the ability to feed my family.
A tailor, Udeme Nicholas, was so pissed off by the situation that he lamented, “It feels virtually as if my village individuals are following me. I get loads of jobs and my charges usually are not low cost, so I get properly paid for my companies however once I calculate how a lot I spend on meals alone each week for my three youngsters, spouse and myself, it will get me depressed.
“If my spouse had been the one going to the market, perhaps, I might have suspected she was dishonest me however you see, I’m going to the market and it’s not humorous. I’ve received youngsters below 5 years of age, I can’t be denying them basic diet however the situation is getting worse.”
Contacted, the South-West spokesperson for the National Association of Pensioners, Olusegun Abatan, decried the upward movement of food costs, saying that no serious government would watch its senior residents endure.
Whereas expressing disappointment, Abatan recalled Tinubu’s promise to provide pensioners a N25,000 palliative to cushion the impact of the present financial disaster, he claimed that no pensioner had acquired the promised funds.
He additional blamed the current economic crisis on the President’s announcement of the removing of the gasoline subsidy at his inauguration.
He mentioned, “The basis reason behind this hardship may be traced to the assertion of President Bola Tinubu, on his inauguration day. A more careful statement should have been uttered somewhat than that ‘Subsidy is now gone’.
“It’s not only food that’s on the excessive facet, even medication can’t be received simply by pensioners and even by those that are sick because the value is skyrocketing and this was due to that president’s singular assertion. That assertion just isn’t properly thought out.”
Abatan added, “The President declared that he was going to provide N25,000 to pensioners as palliatives however until now now we have not but received any kobo. This has led to disappointment on the a part of our members.
“That is the wet season, what efforts are they setting up to make sure that farmers can do their jobs with out concern of being killed or kidnapped? We are able to solely enchantment to the federal government to wade in and be extra critical of their actions in the direction of making certain that meals costs crash.”
Costs rise
In Ogun State, the worth of 1 bag of beans has continued to soar alongside that of garri, in response to merchants. A foodstuffs vendor in Ikenne, Ogun State, Friday Kingsley, informed our correspondent that one bag of beans which was once round N70,000 in January, had since risen to N185,000. This means a 164 per cent hike.
Kingsley added {that a} bag of garri now sells at N41,000, up from N37,000 in lower than two weeks in the past.. In January, he mentioned it was round 31,000 in January.
“The value garri goes larger by the day. I purchased one bag of garri on the price of N37,000 in Siun Market 10 days in the past, however the identical bag bought for N45,000 yesterday. We don’t know why garri just isn’t coming down.
“In January, I used to purchase a bag of beans round N65,000, N70,000; however right this moment, I purchased the identical bag at N185,000. I couldn’t even pay in full. I’m afraid it might get to N200,000. The rise within the costs of beans and garri could be very disturbing,” Kingsley mentioned.
Additionally, a dealer in Sagamu, who recognized herself as Ashake disclosed to our correspondent that 1kg of Semo rose from N700 in December to N1,400 as of Wednesday. In line with her, the worth of 1kg of wheat was once N500 in December, however it now sells for N1,200. In Abeokuta, bread sellers complained of value hikes, because the smallest loaf of bread rose from N150 in October 2023 to N300 or N400.
In the identical vein, merchants informed our correspondent in Ibafo {that a} bag of sachet water now sells on the price of N400, whereas retailers promote one or two sachets for N50, relying on the placement and the vendor. However there appears to be a glimmer of hope as Mr Success, who sells meals objects in Iperu, disclosed {that a} carton of Indomitable noodles has dropped from N12,000 in February to round N7,000 as of Wednesday. Findings at Oba Lipede market in Kuto, Abeokuta revealed {that a} yam tuber goes for between N2,800 and N3,000.
A retired civil servant, Mrs Titi Alabi, mentioned that it was powerful feeding the household with the way in which the costs of foodstuffs have continued to skyrocket.
Alabi mentioned that the palliatives from the federal government had been a far cry from the challenges Nigerians presently grapple with, notably with the escalating costs of meals.
“We simply have to return to farming. Authorities in any respect ranges should enhance its funding in agriculture, we should search for find out how to increase meals manufacturing,” she said.
Equally in Lagos, meals objects like pepper, spaghetti, onions and oil maintained excessive costs amid naira rebound. Merchants in Oshodi and Agege markets in Lagos State mentioned the meals costs went up between January and April and have refused to backtrack.
Talking with our correspondent, a pepper vendor in Agege, who was recognized merely as Mrs Kareem, famous that in October, an enormous basket of pepper was bought between N60,000 to N74,000, expressing worries that the identical dimension is now bought for N103,000. She added {that a} basket of tomatoes was bought for N35,000 mid-last yr, however it’s now bought for N65,000. Kareem additional said {that a} bag of onions rose from N30,000 to N60,000 in January, saying it has decreased to N47,000 as of Monday.
On the Ikotun Market in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State, The PUNCH noticed {that a} derica of beans which was bought earlier within the yr at N750, now sells for N1,200. Giving particulars of the costs, a dealer, Chidera Madu, mentioned, “Half Derica of beans was bought for N600 earlier than, however now it’s N1,200; a small portion of pepper was N100, however it’s now N200 upwards. 5 litres of palm oil was once N5,000, but now it’s N8,000. One medium loaf of bread was bought for N850 in December, however it’s now N1,300”. She lamented that regardless of the drop within the value of the naira towards the naira, the costs of each day consumables remained excessive.
A foodstuffs vendor round Idimu, Lagos, Christian Igwe, admitted there was a drop within the costs of noodles, saying the cartoon of a model of noodles, which bought for N9,000 some weeks in the past now sells for N6,000. Igwe argued that one mustn’t count on merchants who purchased items after they had been extremely costly to promote them at a loss; saying they must exhaust the outdated inventory.
Expressing concern over the price of meals in Lagos, wholesale meals vendor in Isolo Market, Mr Idris Adebowale, defined that tubers of yam are nonetheless costly as a result of that is the low season for planting. In line with him, a tuber of yam, relying on its dimension, now sells between N2,500 and N3,000, up from N1500 some weeks in the past.
Throughout main markets in Gombe metropolis, costs of meals objects are on a gentle rise. The markets embody Baban Kasuwa, Kasuwa Tumfure, Kasuwa Cross. Not like most cities the place grains are bought in derica, food items are bought in modules in these northern markets. Garri sells for N950, a container of beans sells for N1,400, an average-size tuber of yam prices N1,500, whereas millet is N1,200. Traders said all these costs had been far above what they was once.
In Osun State, checks in some markets inside Osogbo metropolis revealed costs of many regionally produced food items remained high.
At Oluode, one of many main neighborhood markets in Osogbo, a module of garri goes for N1, 200, whereas a bag of local rice that was bought for N50, 000 last week, presently sells for between N55,000 and N57,000.
Price of pepper has additionally remained excessive, the state of affairs blamed on excessive price of transportation from the North the place buik of the item was being dropped at the state.
Sokoto markets
In Sokoto State, residents lamented the rising price of foodstuffs proceed to rise out there. In line with them, a plate of white beans now sells on the price of N3,000 whereas a plate of garri which was bought for N2,200 just a few weeks in the past now goes for between N2,500. Millet, which is essentially the most generally consumed meals within the state has additionally moved above N2,000.
It was an identical state of affairs in Ilorin, Kwara State, the place the costs of foodstuffs proceed to soar. In Baboko and Mandate markets W confirmed {that a} bag of beans was bought at N135,000 as a substitute of N129,000 two weeks in the past. A bag of guinea corn which beforehand bought for N52,000 was bought at N57,000, whereas a plastic of garri has elevated from N15,000 to N17,000.
It was noticed {that a} small bag of yam flour now prices N160,000 whereas an enormous bag sells at N280,000, indicating a pointy enhance from what it was just a few months in the past.
The value of six average-size tubers of yam was between N8,000 whereas the large tubers of yam had been bought at between N13,000 and N15,000. A foodstuffs supplier at Baboko market, Mrs Rodiat Mustapha mentioned the price of transportation is likely one of the elements chargeable for the excessive price of food.
In Niger, merchants nonetheless blame the dollar for the hike in meals costs. As an illustration, on the Thursday Market and the Kure Market, prospects had been seen complaining about the price of meals, however the merchants mentioned they had been to not blame.
“It’s not our fault. We additionally need the objects to return down of their costs as a result of there’s low patronage. However we purchase at very costly charges too,” Hauwa mentioned.
The PUNCH investigation revealed {that a} kilogramme of cow meat sells for N5,000 whereas rooster sells for between N6,500 and N8,000, relying on the placement. It was additionally noticed that fish has gone above the buying powers of the widespread man as one medium-sized sardine now goes for about N3,000.
On the markets in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, the costs of food items additionally stay excessive. A measure of garri which was bought for N500 or N600 in December is now N1,200.
A dealer at Oja Oba, who recognized herself as Dupe, mentioned, “A measure of beans is now N2,000. It was like N700 earlier than the subsidy removing. We promote as we purchase, we aren’t the issue”.
Additionally, a yam vendor on the Okesha Market, Bimbo, defined that the costs of 5 tubers of yam rose from N2,500 final yr to N6,000. She mentioned the worth hike utilized to all commodities due to the excessive transport price.
“We now promote 5 litres of palm oil on the price of N6,000. It was once N2,500 earlier than subsidy removing. Might God come to our assist,” the dealer prayed.
In the meantime, the government on the three tiers have been suggested to assist farmers with accountable and clear incentives whereas encouraging farming by enabling farmers to safe mechanised farming tools in farm clusters.