By Nasirudeen Ahmad/Abdulmumeen Aishat/Oguntimehin Sunita/Adedeji Adenuga
Residents in Kwara State have continued to lament the high cost of
food items in markets across the state.
This development is not unconnected with the order for closure of
borders by the Federal Government about three weeks ago.
Cross section of traders and residents who spoke to Pilot Business
yesterday, appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to reverse the
order given its effect on prices of goods.
A market survey by Pilot Business on Wednesday, revealed that prices
of food items like rice, beans, frozen foods, vegetable oil,
perishable foods and beverages have all skyrocketed.
Markets visited include Mandate Ultramodern market, Oja- Oba, Ipata
market and Obbo road all within the metropolis.
Speaking to our reporters, a trader at Mandate market, Hajia Karima
Moshood complained about scarcity of rice which has consequently
pushed up its price.
“Since the closure of borders, there has been low patronage as most
customers cannot afford to buy rice as the price as gone up. A bag of
rice which was sold for N16000, now go for between N18,000 and
N20,000 because there is a little scarcity,” she explained.
Another trader, Mrs Muslimat Soliu also decried the development,
saying that rice and beans are most affected by the border closure.
A customer at Ipata market, Mrs Ganiyat Akanbi said the price of
semolina has increased.
According to her, a bag of 10kg of semolina which was sold at the
rate of N2,700 now cost N2,900.
Also, a shop owner, Mrs. Charity Nwafor told this medium that
25liters of refillable groundnut oil which was sold for between
N8,000 and N9,000, now costs N13,000 while non-refillable costs
N10,800, which is an insecrease of N300 above its former value.
A frozen food seller, Mrs. Okhifo Beatrice said a kilogramme of
frozen chicken, which was sold for N1,200, now costs N1,600, while a
kilogramme of frozen turkey now cost N1,700, which is an increase of
N400 above its former value.
She said: “I have exhausted my stock and I don’t know where to get the
product. A customer who usually buys fours cartons of Crocker fish at
weekends has now resorted to buying “Panla” due to the scarcity of the
stock.”
Owner of Olowo Food stores, Alhaji Abdul Razaq owner urged government
to reverse the order on border closure for food items to become
affordable for the masses again.
He said foreign rice now go for N21,000 as against N19,000 while
vegetable oil which use to sell for now goes for between N10,200 and
N11,500 and bag of beans has increased from N13,000 to N14,000.
