Asaba- Traders in Asaba, the Delta capital, have blamed the increase in the prices of stable food items in the state capital on the current price hike in petroleum products.
The traders attributed the increase in the prices of foodstuff to the rise in the cost of transportation, which resulted from the price hike in petrol.
The traders spoke in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Asaba.
Mrs Alice Gold, a dealer in vegetable oil at the Ogbe Ogonogo Modern Market said that the “prices of goods have gone up in the last six weeks and our suppliers have blamed it on the high cost of transportation.
“A tin of Grand Soya vegetable oil we sold for N1,100 two months ago, is now N1,300 because of the increase in the cost price.
“There is no way we can sell it as we used to, otherwise, we will be selling below the cost price.’’
Mrs Judith Okocha, a frozen food dealer at the Abraka Market said that in the last few months, the price of fish has been on the increase.
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“Our suppliers have kept telling us that the exchange rate of the dollar and the price of petrol are high.
“But how long are we going to be experiencing this constant increase? Most of my customers who used to buy up to a carton of fish can hardly pay for three cartons,’’ she said.
Mr Benson Uzor who also sells food items at Okpanam Market said that the “ prices of goods are just increasing on a daily basis and this is affecting our businesses.
“Last December we complained of the increase in the price of tin tomatoes, but in the last two months, the price has risen from N1,500 to N2,000.
“I want to appeal to government to intervene by addressing the challenge of fuel scarcity in this country.’’
A survey by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Asaba and environs revealed that the prices of some foodstuff had been on the increase in the last six weeks.
The survey showed that a carton of frozen chicken formerly sold for N8,500 now sells for N9,500, while a carton of Titus brand of frozen fish increased from N4,800 to N5,500.
The cost of three litres of Grand brand of vegetable oil now sells for N1,300 as against N1,100 it sold in April.
The price of tin tomatoes also went up as a carton of a small-sized Gino brand is now N1,500 instead of N2000. (NAN)
