Fuel hike: Prices of food, services increase, citizens want FG’s intervention

Prices of most food items, goods and services have increased in different markets in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and its environs, according to a survey by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

NAN study in Abuja yesterday, showed that the increase in the prices of food and services was due to the hike in the pump price of petroleum products occasioned by the Middle East crisis.

The development had also caused a strain on both traders, business owners, consumers and other citizens as many households say they now spent more on feeding and to acquire basic goods and services.

NAN reports that both business owners, traders and consumers are lamenting the impact of the hike on their businesses and lifestyle.

They called for urgent government’s intervention to cushion the effect of the price hike.

At the popular Orange market located at the Abuja-Keffi road referred to as the ‘hub of bulk food market’, a big basket of tomatoes which sold between N9,000 and N10,000 in February was during the visit sold between N30,000 and N35,000.

A big bag of onions, which sold for between N15,000 to N25,000 was now being sold for between N40,000 and N45,000 while a dustbin basket of onions, which used to sell for between N3,000 and N3,500 was now being sold for between N4,000 and N5,000.

At Lugbe market, a dustbin basket of sweet potatoes which sold for between N1,000 and N1,200 was now being sold for between N2,000 and N2,500.
Five tubers of yam which sold for between N6,000 and N6,500 was now being sold for between N8,000 and N10,000 depending on the size.

One module (mudu) of white beans which was sold for between N800 and N1300 was now being sold for between N1,500 and N1,600 while brown beans which was N1,500 was now N1,800.

At Orozo market, five tubers of medium sized yam sold for between N5,000 and N6,000 was now being sold for between N8,500 and N9,000 while the small size ones were being sold for N5,000.

A module (mudu) of brown beans formally sold for between N600 and N700 was now being sold for N1,300.

At Karu market, big basket of tomatoes which sold for N32,000 was now being sold for between N38,000 and N40,000

A small basket of pepper which was sold for N5, 000 before, was now being sold for N9,000 while a small dustbin basket of tatashe was now being sold for N6,000.

Five pieces of big sized yam was now being sold for N15,000 as against N12,000 while a small basket of onions now went for N5,500 as against the N4,000 initial price.

At Wuse market, a small dustbin basket of tomatoes sold for between N3,000 and N24,000 was now being sold for between N6,000 and N8,000.
A dustbin basket of pepper which sold for N7,000 now went for between N9,000 and N10,000 while the same measure of tatashe was now being sold for N7,000.

A big sized tuber of yam was now being sold at Wuse market for between N10,000 and N15,000 while a small sized one now went for N8,000.

At Utako market, a dustbin basket of sweet potatoes formally sold between N1,500 and N2,000 was now being sold between N3,000 and N4,000.

A dustbin basket of onions at the same market was now being sold for between N5,000 and N6,000 as against N3,500 and N4,000.

At Garki Modern Market, NAN observed a slight increase and decrease in the prices of some food items, while others remained unchanged.

A dustin basket of big tomatoes dropped from N5,000 to between N4,000 and N4,500, while a dustin basket of Shombo increased from N3,500 to N4,000.

A dustin basket of onions increased from N3,500 to N4,000 while a dustin basket of tatashe increased from N4,000 to N4,500.

At Nyanya market, the price of a medium sized yam sold for between N5,000 and N6,000 was now being sold for between N8,500 and N9,000.

The prices of ice blocks, bags of sachet water and cold drinks had increased due to epileptic power supply and hike in price of fuel and diesel.

Mr Simon Adolo, an Imueti Table Water Distributor, said the hike in the price of bags of  sachet water was due to the increase in the price of diesel.

Adolo said the company now sold a bag of sachet water to shops at the rate of N450 or N500 as against N300 and N350 sold before.

”Light issue has been a big challenge to our company in recent times.

”The demand for the water is very high now because of the hot season but we are not meeting up with the production because of the poor electricity supply.

”Now, we rely more on diesel; we spend a lot of money to buy diesel and we burn it  just to produce the water.

”In fact, if we want to calculate what we spend on production versus what we make as profit for now, it is very small,” he said.

He appealed to the Federal Government to find lasting solutions to electricity problems in the country to enable small businesses to thrive.

Mrs Esther Gabriel, an ice-block dealer in Nyanya market, said the price of her blocks had increased from N500 to N800 depending on the size.

Gabriel said the increase was due to the epileptic power supply in the area.

”I buy diesel and fuel just to power my generators because we rarely get five hours of light on a daily basis.

”This is riping me off and stifling my business because I no longer meet up with the demands of my customers,” she said.

At the Apo Resettlement Area, a resident, Agnes Joseph, said a bag of sachet water formally sold between N350 and N400 is now sold between N450 and N500.

”The scary part is that the distributors are still threatening that the price will still be increased  due to the increasing cost of production.

“Even something as common as water will soon be out of the reach of Nigerians,” John said.

Similarly, Mrs Rosemary Akor, a resident of Apo, also decried the increasing cost  of some services due to the increased cost of fuel and electricity tariff.

Akor said her two children had a haircut just few weeks ago for N1,400.

“I was surprised today when I took them to the same saloon for a haircut and I was charged N3,000.

“This is outrageous, we cannot continue like this. Something needs to be done and fast,” she said.

Mrs Rebecca Terve, a baker in Nyanya area, lamented the increase in the prices of every material used for baking.

”I do not know if it is due to the past Ramadan fast or the Middle East crisis that caused the increase.

”The government must have to find a way around all these so that we can live better,” she said.

Alhaji Jibrin Abdullahi, a yam seller at Nyanya market, said the transportation fare used to bring a trip of yam from Benue State to Abuja had tripled.

Abdullahi appealed to the government to support them to cushion the effect of the crisis on their businesses.

Ms Ifeoma Atuegwu, a customer and single mother of three children said her standard of living was dropping on a daily basis.

Atuegwu appealed to the government to address the factors contributing to the price hike, especially the cost of transportation to help stabilise the market and standard of living of citizens. (NAN)