With about 48 hours to Christmas, Nigerians are expressing frustration and pains over soaring prices of basic food items and fares.

Both sellers and buyers complained of the biting inflation, coupled with lack of funds to meet basic family obligations ahead of the festivities.

High cost of transport

For instance, reports indicated that a cross section of commuters in Lagos State are angry over high transport fares, blaming drivers for not being considerate as the yuletide draws near.

The commuters told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Lagos that it had become almost unbearable as the increase in fares were between 50 per cent and more than 100 per cent.

Joyce Obi, a commuter, who boarded a CMS-bound Toyota Hiace bus from Iju-Ishaga area of the state, said the fare had increased from N300 to N500.

“The way drivers are demanding huge sum of money to convey us from one place to another in Lagos is becoming something else.

“Where they used to collect N300 or at most N350, they requested we should pay N500.

“This means that whatever you intend to do will reduce because after spending so much on transportation, little will be left to buy other things? It is sad because they are not considerate at all,” she said.

In Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, traders decried low patronage of food stuff by customers.

In separate interviews,  the traders also alleged that they were subjected to monetary extortion by unscrupulous elements at  various check points on the road leading to the state capital.

The vice-chairman, Goat Dealers Association at the Garki Market,  Alhaji Musa Yusuf, identified lack of money as the reason for the low level of sales.

He said: “Goat, which was sold at between N18, 000 and N25, 000, now sells at between N30, 000, N45,000, depending on the size of the animal.

“N15, 000 has been added to the price of each  animal depending on the size.”

Similarly, Alhaji Tijjani Umar, who is the patron, Goat and Cattle Sellers Association, attributed the low rate of patronage to scarcity of money.

“We transport them from Adamawa, Yobe, Taraba, and from some other states for N170, 000 and we are forced to settle different individuals in the name of paying tax at every check point and this can cost up to N200, 000, which we pay up before we get here,”  he lamented.

Mrs Cecilia Odi and Mrs Celina Okike, tomato sellers, also said that a basket of tomatoes, which sold for between N4, 500 and N5,000 in November, now sells for N15,000.

They said that one could easily incur losses in the business due to the unimpressive turnout of customers.

“Transportation and expenses are our major problem in the business.

“We buy cheap and sell at a higher rate due to expenses we incur at check points as we transport the products to the market.

Another trader, Mr Kenneth Ofoke, a Bird seller, also blamed the slight difference in price and low patronage on lack of funds and the state of the economy.

“The old layer birds, which sold previously for between N1,500 and N1,400, now sell for between N1,700 and N1,600 depending on their sizes.

“Also, broiler birds, which sold for between N2,000 and N2,200, now sell between N2, 500 and Net no patronage,” Ofoke said.

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Hope rising

However, some poultry farmers in Oko-Oba area of Lagos State expressed excitement as they had begun to record sales on a positive note ahead of Christmas.

The farmers said though they had expected better patronage but were happy that Lagosians still had the purchasing power to buy their products.

NAN reports that the farmers reared turkey, broilers, noilers and other poultry birds.

Mr Daniel Dimeji, a broiler farmer, said that almost all his birds had been sold and that sales had been consistent in the last two days.

Dimeji told NAN that he had about 2,000 broilers and 1,500 noilers.

“I must say that sales has been very positive because about half of my stuck is gone already.

“I am surprised that people still come out to buy chicken notwithstanding the economic situation of the country, so, that makes me happy.

“I hope that before Tuesday, all my products would have been bought, though, my New Year sales will commence immediate after Christmas celebration,” he said.

Dimeji said that average size of broiler goes for N4,500, while a bigger size is between N5,000 and N6,000; noiler birds is selling at N3,500 and N5,000, depending on the size.

Ms Deborah Kolawole, a turkey, old layer and broiler farmer, said that she was happy with the sales so far.

Kolawole said that a big turkey which she used to sell for N12, 000 as of November now goes for N15,000.

“As Christmas draws near, definitely, the prices of wares and foodstuff will go up, that is what has happened. The feed we use to keep the turkey and other birds healthy and strong have gone up.

“Even though the prices have increased, people are still patronising us,” she said.

Kolawole also said that middlemen and market women, who serve as off-takes in the poultry value chain, were also part of price increments.

Emmanuel Tobi, an old layer bird farmer, said that sales had been encouraging when compared to last year.

Tobi said that he was not able to invest as much as he had wanted because of the fear of selling at ridiculous prices that will not be profitable.

“I am not really surprised that Nigerians will want to have a good celebration irrespective of the situation in the country, but I never expected this much.

“I am very happy with the sales so far but am not happy that I did not put in as much as I would have loved to, ‘’ he said.

NAN reports that in other parts of state such as Lekki, Mile 12, Ile-Epo markets, prices of live poultry products are between N2,000 and N8,000 depending on the weight and brand.

TRADERS selling chicken at various markets in the ancient city of Kano, complained low patronage as most customers ,who could have purchased chicken jointly contributed money to purchase cows for sharing.

This is just as prices of other food items ,tomatoes, pepper ,onion and other ingredient were a bit fair when compared with last year.

When Sunday Tribune visited some markets in the state capital, it was discovered that the price of chicken is between N3,000 -N5,000,unlike last year when the prided ranges from N2,000-N3000.

Malam Muhammad Ibrahim, a chicken trade said the lost was as a result of high price of feed.

Hajita Salamat Dogo disclosed that as a result of prevailing harsh hamattan being experience in the North many traders lost chicken.

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