• FCT residents sceptical over cost of items
From Charity Nwakaudu, Abuja
Prices of certain food items in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, are dropping gradually, compared to what they used to be. Investigations by Daily Sun showed that the prices vary, depending on the market and location.
Food prices tend to be higher in markets situated in the city centre than those located in the satellite towns. At Kubwa Market, a 50kg bag of rice, which was sold between N88,000 and N90,000 in January is now N75,000 and below. A 25kg bag formerly sold between N43,000 and N40,000 now sells for N37,500 and below, depending on the brand.
In Wuse Market and other markets located at the city centre, a bag of 50kg rice goes for between N78,000 and N80,000, as against N92,000 in January. A 25kg bag now sells for between N39,000 and N40,000, as against N45,000 in January.
In Nyanya Market, a satellite town, a 50kg bag of rice, which was sold between N90,000 and N93,000 in January, is now between N70,000 and N72,000, depending on the brand. But commodities like groundnuts, cocoa yams, Irish potatoes, palm oil and vegetable oil, fish and meats still remain relatively high in some markets.
A civil servant, Oluchi Benson, who resides in Jabi, said there was a reduction in the prices of foodstuffs: “Though the reduction is not much, it is a relief. People are suffering, but this will go a long way in helping Nigerians cope with the current economic reality.
“I had to go all the way to Mandala to buy my foodstuffs because it is relatively cheaper there and their measurements are very meaningful. Four mudus there is more than five in normal market.”
Another resident of Kubwa, Christy Okoye, said: “Though grains are relatively cheap, it is the cost of cooking ingredients like tomatoes, oil, fish and the rest that is the main problem now.
I have resolved cooking vegetables stew and soups because that is the only cheap thing in the market.
“Iced fish once referred as the protein of the poor is now the most expensive thing. It is even better to go for beef and others. A kilo of beef is from N7,000 and above, depending on the location of the market, while there is no single fish below N1,500.”
Mama B in Utako Market: “I know that the price of rice has reduced compared to what it used to be last year but are we going to be eating rice alone? What about oil, protein and other ingredients? Most families have forgotten about things like noodles and other things that the children used as snacks for school.
“Those ones are very expensive. I now make pancakes and hibiscus drink for my wards. I can’t afford to buy biscuits and minerals for them as snacks.”
A mother of four, Maria Ayo, who resides in Dulse Alhaji, said: “I can’t remember when last I bought foodstuffs in smaller quantities from the market since I discovered the contribution method. It has really helped my family. Though prices of some foodstuffs are dropping, things are still very difficult.
“We can’t just eat only rice or beans. Things like eggs, meat, yams and fish are still very expensive. I think government still needs to look into the present situation and see what can be done to improve the livelihood of the ordinary man.”
A trader in Wuse Market, Mallam Aliyu, lamented that there has been reduction in the purchase of rice after Christmas. He attributed it to large involvement of most families in yearly rice contributions: “Lots of people are still feeding on last year’s contribution.”
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