LAGOS – The prices of rice, pepper and tomatoes have dropped further few weeks after Christmas in most Lagos markets, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
The survey, however, revealed that the prices of frozen turkey, chicken, beef, palm oil and beans had
[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”8″]increased.
At the Mile 12 and Oyingbo markets, a basket of tomatoes and pepper (tatashe) now sells for N4,500[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10″]
and N4,000 respectively as against the N5,000 they sold for during Christmas period.
Mr Femi Odusanya, the Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mile 12 Traders Association, told NAN that the [pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10″]
prices dropped due to the availability of the items for the Yuletide.
“Presently, pepper and tomatoes are so cheap in the market that N200 pepper can sufficiently make [pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10″]
stew for a family of six.”
He added that the prices of the items were expected to remain stable for a long time.
At Daleko Market, the price of a 50-kilogramme bag of rice ranged between N7,300 and N9,500.
Mrs Yinka Okunola, a rice seller at the market, told NAN that the prices of rice went down due to availability of local variety.
“The locally produced rice has penetrated the market and is competing favourably with the imported rice and this has forced a reduction in the prices of rice.
“The lowest we sold imported rice was N10,000, but now with N8,500, you can purchase some of the various brands,’’ said Okunola.
However, the costs of cartons of frozen turkey and chicken had gone up slightly.
A carton of turkey goes for N8,000 from N7, 700, while the chicken sells for N7,000 from N6,500.
Mrs Grace Nwokolo, a dealer in frozen foods, attributed the price change to increase in foreign exchange rate and epileptic power supply.
At the Iddo market, a bag of beans now sells for N16,300, from the N15,900 it sold for before the Christmas.
At the Whitesand Market at Oyingbo, a 25-litre keg of vegetable oil goes for N6,000, showing an increase of N200 from the N5,800 it sold previously.
A 25-litre of palm oil now goes for N6,850 from N6,600, the drum now costs N50,500, while the price of oil in bottle remained N195.
A 60kg bag of gari, which costs N5,600 before Christmas, is now N6,000, showing N400 increment.
A paint bucket measurement of garri, however, remained at the same price of N300.
Alhaji Tajudeen Saka, a meat seller, attributed the increase in the price of meat to the insecurity in the north east and cost of transporting cows to the southern parts of the country.
He said: “we all know about Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East, the clash between Fulani herdsmen and the locals. These factors have affected the rearing of livestocks.”
However, at most of the markets visited, the traders complained of low patronage.
Alhaja Basirat Balogun, Iyaloja General, Mainland Market Association, complained of low patronage.
“Most of our traders lament that they hardly make sales to meet their responsibilities at home, as they are living on hand to mouth basis.
“We pray and hope that business activities will improve after the elections’’, said Balogun.
Mrs Abosede Aluko, a gari seller, said “the poor sales experienced might be connected with the fact that most people were yet to consume the food they bought during the festive period.”
Also, Mrs Florence Adeyanju, a seller of children’s items at Docemo Market, said “even though we have not increased prices of school bags, water bottles and food flasks, patronage is still very low.”
Similarly, Mrs Adenike Olokodana, Secretary, Idumota Market Association, attributed the low sales to school resumption and the attendant expenditure.
“It is quite usual for sales to be dull at this time of the year because schools have resumed and parents are more concerned with payment of their children’s school fees than shopping.
“I believe that sales will improve in few weeks when most people would have sorted out school fees and need to stock up items for the home.” (NAN)