Residents of Southeast zone are currently at crossroads with food vendors in the zone as they continue to hike food price despite reduction at market.
WITHIN NIGERIA gathered that this situation has become a very serious concern for the citizens of the zone especially those who depend solely on the food vendors for their daily food.
At a popular casual worker waiting spot, along Ogurugu road Nsukka, some workers were heard complaining bitterly about the high cost of plate of food despite reducing price of food stuff.
Our reporter visits Food stuff sellers
Few days ago, WITHIN NIGERIA reporter visited World Bank Assisted market, Orba, Udenu local government area where he had a chat with some food stuff sellers to ascertain the price of food stuffs in the area.
Innocent Ugwuoke is a renowned food stuff dealer in the market. He told our reporter that the price of food stuff is coming down everyday with expectation that it will be very cheap this year.
“Majority of food stuffs are now very cheap. The price is coming down on a daily basis ”
Giving the prices of these food stuff, he told our reporter that ” 100kg of potasco beans is now sold at N70,000 against N160,000 it was sold last year. 100kg of rice is N90,000 against N140,000, okpa N95,000 against N200,000; maize N31,000 against N95,000. With all these price changes, you will agree with me that food stuff is now so cheap in the country.”
When our reporter visited yam sellers at the market, it was gathered that a tuber of yam previously sold at N2000 now sells between N1000 and N800 depending on the bargaining power of the buyer.
One of the sellers who spoke to our reporter under the condition of anonymity said that ” before now, yams are for rich people in the society. But the situation has now changed. Anybody can buy yam now because the price has come down very well.”
Explaining further, the seller told WITHIN NIGERIA that, ” yam that was sold at N2000 is now N1000 and below. Yams sold at N3000 are now N1200.”
Asked what the cause of the price crash was, the seller told our reporter that ” though this is harvest season, this is more like having too much food items in the market.”
Our reporter visits food vendors/restaurants
In any case, when our reporter a popular restaurant at Ogurugu road, Nsukka, the prices of food remained the same.
Conspicuously displayed at the restaurant, a plate of rice is N3000, swallow N3500, local food remained at N3000 each.
When our reporter wanted to speak with the owner of the restaurant, she was not in her office but one of the chefs who spoke under anonymity told our reporter that ” the cost of condiments is very high. Six litres of palm oil which we used to buy at N7000 is now N16000. Pepper and other condiments are at the rooftop.”
Celestina Ukwuaba is a popular rice and beans vendor at Obollo-Afor, Udenu local government area of Enugu state. She told our reporter that despite the fact that the price of food stuff is coming, other variables are not coming down in price.
“A bag of charcoal that was sold at N5000 is still N9000. Six litres of palm oil is N16000 while five litres of Kings groundnut oil is N18000.”
Explaining further, Mrs Ukwuaba stated that, “so, the crash of price of food stuff without the corresponding fall in the price of other variables I mentioned here is not enough to push the price of a plate of food down.
“Right now, a plate of food is still N800 without meat, while N1300 will give you both food and meat. Though the quantity remains the same, you the customers should know that we the sellers pay rent from the proceeds. Are you not aware that two bedroom flat here in Obollo-Afor is between N500,000 and N700,000, depending on the area.
“So, it is not the fault if the food vendors that the price of a plate of food is still high in the country. Food vendors have to pay rent, train their children in school and build house as the case may be ,” Mrs. Ukwuaba explained.
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