Ahead of tomorrow’s Christmas celebration, many residents of Oyo State are groaning under the weighty burden of escalating food prices in the state ,as many of them may end up having a bleak ceremony.
When The New Daily Prime visited some of the popular markets in the state today, it was discovered that prices of various products, including grains and staple food items have hit the roof top.
Many residents also lamented their inability to afford basic food items needed to celebrate Christmas with their families.
The prices of food items such as rice, beans, yams, garri, and noodles had actually quadrupled in the last few days.
At key markets like Oja Oba, Molete and Oje, a 50kg bag of foreign rice which previously sold for about N80,000, now costs between N90,000 and N100,000.
Similarly, a local measure of eight cups of beans now goes for N1,000 to N2,500, while a measure of garri, which was N1,200, has increased to about N1,400.
The price of chickens has also skyrocketed, with those previously sold for N4,000 to N5,000 now selling as much as N12,000, N15,000, or even N35,000.
The high inflationary trend has created palpable tension across many markets in the State.
When the New Daily Prime visited some of markets, the general mood was far from being festive and celebratory, as many stall owners were idling away for lack of consumers. Even those who had buyers,had a tough time convincing them to purchase their needed products.
Some residents who spoke with the New Daily Prime attributed the price hike to rising costs at storage depots, high transport fare, and other economic factors.
Sekinat Olajire, a chicken vendor, described this year’s Christmas as the worst she had ever experienced. She lamented the poor patronage experienced, blaming it on the high cost of poultry products, which has deterred many families from purchasing the chicken for the festive season.
“Christmas is a pleasant celebration,but the market is dull At this time, people should be trooping in to buy chickens, but that’s not happening because many now rear chickens in their homes.
“We implore people to buy from us. We’ve even reduced the price from ₦25,000 to ₦15,000, yet people still complain that they are expensive. Our chickens are big. Last year, we sold one for ₦4,000, but now it’s ₦8,000, ₦15,000, or more,” Sekinat said.
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She therefore urged the President Bola Tinubu – led Federal Government overnment to address the issue of rising cost of commodities, emphasising that Nigerians were dying of hunger.
“The government should help us. People want to buy and eat chicken, but they don’t have money. If you want to cook a good pot of soup now, you need nothing less than ₦50,000. Fish is not cheap just like other ingredients”, she added.
Fagbolade Jibola, the Secretary of the Park Management Service (PMS) under the Oyo state government, lamented that insecurity and the surge in petrol prices have significantly impacted negatively on the cost of foodstuffs and other essential items.
He stated that people can barely afford food, let alone the cost of boarding tricycles, leaving many to abandon such means of transport.
“People aren’t moving, drivers are crying, and the cost of fuel is high. Right now, I can’t send as much as I did last year, because I don’t want a situation where chicken sellers and dealers in other products will be calling for their money.
Nothing is working. The government should reduce fuel price to ₦500 or ₦400,” he added.
A cart pusher, Akilapa Moshood, also expressed frustration over the high cost of living, saying:“ Bringing Tinubu on board is very unfortunate, and Nigerians are suffering ,because the country is in grave problem. Those who traded their votes for money or rice are the ones responsible for this mess,” he added.
“I bought a small chicken, but I can’t afford rice or other foodstuffs. My wife insists I must return home with the remaining Christmas items, but I don’t have the money.”
A hustler in the same market, Ismaila Ayoade, remarked that the harsh economic condition in the country has forced many people to opt for fish, as the price of chicken has become exorbitantly high.
He also expressed concerns over the rising costs of rice, beans, and other foodstuffs, saying, “The country is in a terrible state. If it were in the past, the markets will be bustling withany people buying and selling chickens. Now, you can barely spot two or three buyers.”
Ayoade echoed the urgent need for government’s intervention, pointing out that many Nigerians struggle to afford basic foodstuff during the festive season, despite their hard work.
“People have nothing to eat as Christmas approaches,” he lamented.
Farooq Olalekan, a drink seller, revealed that his family has been unable to buy fish or anything else needed to celebrate Christmas tomorrow.
He explained that his family’s inability to afford Christmas provisions forced him, his mother, and his brother to sell drinks.
“I’m preparing for Christmas and trying my best to get something to eat. I have no job other than selling drinks, which my mother and siblings also depend on. I’m tired we’re all tired. I’m here today to try and make money to buy Christmas food.”
Olayemi Oladosun, a fish seller, explained that despite the rise in chicken prices, people still avoid buying fish from her due to the economic hardship.
She also lamented the scarcity of naira, which she attributed as a major factor behind the decline in patronage.
“Christmas is not going well at all. There’s no market. Even the fish I’m selling is not being demanded, because people don’t have money to buy chickens.
Michael Alade, a rice vendorand other foodstuffs, lamented,saying “People still come, but not like before. They keep complaining about the high cost of rice, beans, and the other goods I sell. It’s not my fault; everything has become more expensive.
“We even travel to Cotonou to purchase food items, but Customs officials demand money from us without any explanation. We borrow money to stock up, only for customs to seize the goods. We are exhausted. Prices keep rising, and now people can no longer afford food for Christmas.”
Additionally, Victoria Adejimi, a vegetable seller, spoke about her experience,adding: “I haven’t been able to buy any foodstuffs yet. There seems to be no way out for me unless God sends a helper to my family. I came to the market hoping to sell some vegetables ,and buy food for Christmas, but the market is not moving.
“Although I have nothing now, I’ll make do with whatever I have. Last year, I had enough and even gave food to those in need. But this year is a different situation.”
