Nigerians Struggle as Soaring Food Prices Bring Tears

Nigerians have lamented over the high price of goods and services.

Traders and consumers cried out during a recent interview with Punch.

They expressed worry, saying the prices of food commodities keep skyrocketing.

Some of the consumers who spoke with PUNCH Metro also bemoaned the scarcity of some foodstuffs in the market.

Our correspondent, who visited Magboro Market in the Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State on Tuesday, gathered that prices of food items such as melon, onions, frozen foods, and tomatoes have doubled.

A trader, who gave his name simply as Mr Najanko, told PUNCH Metro that the abrupt change in the price of onions was becoming unbearable

He said, “I can’t just believe that I sold these same onions five months ago. Some months ago, I bought a bag of onions for N30,000, when I got to the market last two months, I purchased the same bag for N50,000.”

Najanko lamented that the hike in price is eating deep into his profit.

“I barely make a profit again. A bag of onions last month was N70,000. But to my shock, when I got to the market last Saturday, a bag of onions is now N120,000. How will one make a profit?” he wondered.

A buyer, who simply identified herself as Mummy Bright, said, “All the food items are too expensive. Before, a paint of  melon was N4,500. Today, what I bought last week has increased to N5,000.

“Tomatoes are now becoming as expensive as gold. We hardly see it in the market again. The government should help to improve the agricultural sector in Nigeria.”