LAGOS – Ahead of Christmas celebration, hampers have flooded markets and sales outlets in the Lagos metropolis, and their prices soaring.
An investigation carried out by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday showed that the prices of the hampers went up by at least 25 per cent compared to those of last year.
The investigation also showed that the hampers are categorised according to their sizes and contents.
Prices of the hampers range from N6, 000 to N150, 000 depending on the items packed in them.
Some of the hampers are classified as assorted, perfume, fruit, chocolate, wine and household items.
They are packaged in cane baskets, raffia baskets, plastic bowls and wooden boxes.
Some sellers told NAN that several factors were responsible for the increase in the prices of hampers.
Mrs Rebecca Abiona, who sells hampers at Iponri Market, attributed the increase to high foreign exchange rate and increase in prices of items packed in the hampers.
“Most of the items I pack in the hampers are imported. With the recent devaluation of the Naira, prices of these items may further increase.
“The hamper that I am selling for N7, 500, I sold it 6, 000 last year with the same items in it,” she told NAN .
Mrs Taiye Adeyemi, who trades at Apongbon Market, told NAN that high cost of transport and packaging contributed to increase.
“Before, I transported my goods to Nigeria from the U.S. at three dollars per kilogramme, but now I am paying from four dollars to five dollars per kilogramme.
“Most of these consumables are heavy; so, you can imagine the cost.
“A hamper basket that I bought for N500 last year goes for N800 this year; all these factors will definitely affect the cost of the hampers,” she said.
Mr Emmanuel Abunubo, a basket weaver at Maryland, attributed the increase in the cost of baskets to increase in the cost of production and transport as well as the time it would take to produce them.
“We source the canes used for the baskets from Edo and Delta states, and the high cost of transporting these canes affects the price of the baskets.
“The raffia which is also used for the basket is imported from Togo.
“Our production is done manually which slows down our work.
“To meet up with the rush during the Yuletide, we have to get more hands to assist, ”he added.
Mrs Morenikeji Adams, a buyer, told NAN that Christmas period was a time to express love through giving, adding that she would continue to buy hampers in spite of price increase.
“I buy hampers yearly for my pastors, in-laws, friends and superiors at office.
“It seems the prices of hampers have gone up but it will not stop me from buying,” she said. (NAN)
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