The recent hike in food prices has been a source of worry for Nigerians as they blame the development on the insensitivity of the Federal Government.
A TEACHER, COMMUNITY PRIMARY SCHOOL, NNEWI, ANAMBRA STATE, MRS CAROLINE IBEH
Things have continued to fall apart in President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime and one of such is the hike in foodstuff prices. A bag of rice and paint bucket of beans had increased from N12,000 and N550 to N23,500 and N1, 200 respectively within few months.
A cup of Melon (Egusi) is now N250, up from N100. A cup of ogbono has skyrocketed to N400, away from the N200 it used to be in the past. Small bucket paint of garri had risen by 50 per cent from N400 to N700 and the unfortunate thing is that the salary had not increased. So, how do we cover up for the increase when you are expected as a civil servant not to do other jobs by the sides.
People are dying, there is hunger everywhere, students are dropping out of school, companies are closing down, and workers are being sacked from various organisations. The government seems to have lost focus in reviving the economy as promised during electoral campaigns.
A CIVIL SERVANT AND A FOODSTUFF TRADER, BWARI AREA, ABUJA, ALHAJA KAFAYAT MUSA
I sell foodstuff and I know what the hike has caused me as a seller and consumer of food items. Sales had been low, for the past two months because people are now selective of what they buy. Others have bought on credit and they have not paid because they are owed several months salaries.
For instance, I have reduced the number of ingredients I use to cook vegetable soup. A bowl of rice that we call ‘mudu’ here is now N700, beans is now N450 per bowl, a bowl of yam flour sells for N500, a kilo of beef had increased from N800 to N1,600 and a kilo of chicken and turkey had risen from N700 to N1,200. In situation like this, we simply need to reduce our consumption and compel the children to do same in order to avoid embarrassing situation when I will be cash trapped.
A FEDERAL CIVIL SERVANT IN ABUJA, MRS. DUPE SALAMI
I believe the technical economic recession is Structural Adjustment Programme in disguise. Things are harder now and there is no assurance it will end anytime soon. I thought I voted for a positive change and not the one that will make life miserable for me. If buying food can be this difficult, it can lead to food crisis.
Before now, what my husband gives me to buy food items was not enough and it had dropped further because his salary had been slashed by 40 per cent. I cannot complain because I know we had to be mindful of how we spend during this challenging period in order to avoid situation where we beg relatives for alms. He unfortunate thing is that the government has not taken any meaningful step towards addressing the issue order than begging us to be patient. I expect FG to lift ban on importation of rice and other items now. We voted for change and we should eat the dividend. It should come when we are dead of hunger.
A MEDICAL DOCTOR, CANAAN HOSPITAL, IKEJA, LAGOS, DR. DAMILARE AJAYI
I don’t really know the prices of food items but I observed that the quantity and quality of meals I buy from restaurants and fast-food joints have reduced overtime, especially since FG increased the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly known as Petrol. Government is not trying at all as its actions depict insensitivity to the plights of the common man.
OWNER OF MAMA AJ, OJODU, LAGOS STATE, MRS. AJARAT IDERA
The hike which had been on for four months, had affected my business and clientele base. This has made me to reduce the quantity and quality of the food I sell to my customers. For example, the brand of rice I normally buy, which was sold between N10, 000 and N13, 000 three months ago now sells between N20, 000 and N25, 000. A paint bucket of Garri that I used to buy at N550 now sells for N900 or more. I had to reduce the quantity I sell to my customers by 40 per cent.
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, FEMBOSCO ELECTRICAL COMPANY, A LAGOS BASED FIRM, MR. FEMI OBASA
The recent hike in food prices has changed the eating and menu pattern in my house. We are more prudent in the way we spend money on food items. My children drink gaari most times in the afternoon, but now I have reduce the quantity we buy because a bucket of gaari is now gold. President Muhammadu Buhari’s government has made feeding difficult for us difficult. The way things are now, it is only God that will help this country.
A RETIREE, BASED IN ABEOKUTA, OGUN STATE, MR. AMOS OGUNSANYA, 84
The development has created holes in my pockets. It is very painful when I can’t afford to give my wife money to buy basic food because I am still owed pension by the government and the cost of food items are sky rocketing. My children could not help because they complain of pay cut in their different offices. Instead of buying bread or yam, we buy cocoyam because it is cheaper.
A STUDENT OF FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE ABEOKUTA, OGUN STATE, MISS OLUWAYEMISI ADEJOBI
To cook rice in my hostel now is a luxury as it has become so expensive. Gone were the days I cooks rice in large quantity and share with my roommates. Now I cook the portion I will eat alone because I need to manage my foodstuff else I will embark on hunger strike for the rest of the month. Last month, when I went home for more money, my mother complained about how the price of foodstuff has risen, so the quantity of rice and cassava flour (Gaari) she gave me was smaller. Aside from that, the prices of beverages like Milo, milk and Sardine Titus are now very expensive. A carton of Indomie noodles has increased from N1, 300 to N1,700.
