Some Lagos State foodstuff traders and consumers have expressed respite over the price stability of foodstuff during this year’s Easter celebration.
They disclosed this in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria at the weekend in Lagos.
A cooked food trader, popularly known as Iya Adetoun, said prices of food items have remained stable despite the Easter celebration.
She, however, complained about the high increase in the cost of pepper.
“The prices of food items have remained relatively the same despite the Easter celebration.
“The prices of rice, beans, garri, and other food items have remained constant this season.
“The only problem we have is with the price of pepper. Pepper has become the new gold. We buy a small paint bucket of pepper for as high as N15, 000 from the wholesale market at Ile-Epo.
“We really need intervention in the price of pepper, the price of tomato has been considerably good, depending on what time it is to get to the market and how fortunate you are in bargaining.
“There is actually not much difference in the price of food items this Easter,” she said.
On her part, Mrs. Lilian Agunbiade, a housewife at Agege area of the state, also corroborated the normalcy in the price of food items this Easter.
“There is not much difference in the price of the item I bought two weeks ago and today, in preparation for Easter.
“I am glad the prices are stable, but I believe the low purchasing power of Nigerians has made the prices stable this year’s Easter.
“Everything I purchased is within the price I expected (usual price regardless of the season) but tomato and pepper have gone up a bit.
“However, prices are not too high. I believe it is just an effect of demand, given that this is Easter weekend.
“A small paint bucket of pepper we used to buy at N4,000 now sells at N25,000 for the same quantity,” she said.
Also, Mrs. Antonia Sanwo, a caterer, affirmed the normalcy in the price of food items.
“Relatively, every food item I priced at the market today was within the usual price range.
“I got to the market late and expected to be ripped off due to the Easter celebration, but to my surprise, the prices were relatively fair.
“I bought a big bunch of ugu (pumpkin leaves) for N1,000 and a sizable quantity of water leaf for less than N1,000.
“Even the price of ogbono has dropped, as of two weeks ago, a cup sold for more than N3,000 but presently it sells for N2,000.
“The only item with a high price is crayfish. The price keeps soaring. A paint bucket now sells above N14,000 as against N9,000 sold weeks back,” Sanwo said.
Mrs Doris Nwaigwe, a businesswoman at Dopemu area of the state, said only the cost of vegetables was on the high side in comparison to other food items.
“The cost of vegetables for making fried rice is quite expensive. I got a few strands of spring onions for N500, a few pieces of carrots for N1,000, and green peas cost almost an arm and a leg.
“Apart from that, other food items have stable prices, but it does not seem like the Easter celebration is ongoing.
“The price of frozen food like chicken and turkey is the same. I bought a kilo of chicken for N5,900 as usual, so the Easter celebration does not have so much effect on the price,” Nwaigwe said.
Another resident at Surulere, Mrs Ifeoma Achaku, owner of a store at Lawanson Market, said a bag of rice costs between N75,000 and N85,000, depending on the type.
Achaku noted that there were some price fluctuations in the price of rice, which poses an inability to have a fixed price.
“Rice prices differ based on grain type, with long-grain and short-grain options available. I focus on local rice, as it’s more budget-friendly compared to imported rice.
“However, price fluctuations pose a major challenge, making it difficult to set fixed prices.
“Prices change frequently, causing customers to complain about instability.
“Despite this, sales have increased ahead of Easter, although they are not as high as before,” Achaku said.
Also, another vendor at the Idi-Araba market, Mrs Ibironke Enimola, reported a significant price drop for palm oil and groundnut oil.
“A small refill bottle of palm oil now costs between N1, 600 and N1,800, while groundnut oil sells for N2,200 to N2,500.
“The larger bottles are priced at N2,500 to N3,000 for palm oil and N3,500 to N4,000 for groundnut oil.
“Refill bottles are popular among customers due to their affordability, with palm oil costing N1,600 to N1,800 and groundnut oil selling for N2,200 to N2,500.
“Sales have also increased due to Easter preparations,” Enimola said.
Mrs Iyabo Abiola, a grocer seller at the Censors Market in Surulere, noted that condiments are relatively affordable, particularly when compared to supermarket prices.
“If you are not buying from a supermarket, condiments here are considered cheaper.
“The price difference can vary depending on the type of condiment, with some locally produced spices being cheaper than imported ones,” Abiola said. (NAN)
