Nigerians Suffering, Smiling On Christmas Under Hike In Prices Of Food Items Soars
The usual excitement at Christmas seems not to so in 2021 as people groan to survive.
Families now trade with caution as usual shopping spree has been cut down so as to still have reserve for sustenance.
Our Correspondent visited some major markets in Owerri and observed that the hike in food items alone are unbearable.
At Everyday Supermarket, a tin of evaporated Coast milk goes for N290 to N300 while that of Peak goes for N350.
Essential, average income families now swoop on the used to be much cheaper commodities.
Children are at risk of lacking the necessary nutrition for brain development and general growth with high cost of milk, cereals and other vital food items.
Cornflakes 500 to 600 grams go for N1350 to N1,500. For those in the cadre of irregular minimum wage, they are vulnerable and of course their definition of morality must have been redefined.
A visit to Relief market, our Correspondent observed that Nigerians are frustrated. When a woman was approached to explain her experience, she simply said: “Are you not in the same market. You, what is your own experience, I have been running around the market to get head of stock fish and ice fish but they are not available.
Speaking to one the wholesalers, she said that a bag of stockfish (head) now sells for N180, 000 to N200, 000. “We used to buy between N130, 000 and N145, 000. She said that the reason was the much less value of naira to dollar.
Most Barbers Shops are experiencing low patronage as a result of the cost of a hair cut, which cost between N500 to N1000. Most families in Owerri are learning to handle things like haircut by themselves.
A paint of garri goes between N900 and N1100 while Ogbono is between N500 and N600 for a milk cup. Egusi and other soup ingredients are wholly on the high side.
More worrisome is procurement of cooking gas for cooking with one litre costing N700 to N750 per litre.
Most homes have embraced the old or primitive means of cooking. Firewood once again has become a vital consumable to most homes as they can neither afford gas nor kerosene.
It is a fact that Federal Government has been trying to stabilize the economy through various policies to help small and medium scale enterprises but the problem lies in the value of Nigeria’s naira.
It is hopeful that the government will seek strategic ways to address the stagnation occasioned by the weakness of naira.
It is Christmas celebration where many will likely go on empty stomach even as Imo is one of the most expensive States in Nigeria and highly unproductive.
Meanwhile, it will take close to a decade to restore Imo economy with the level of destruction, annihilation and dislocation of people.
There doesn’t seem to be an end in sight with the continued military occupation in the State with obstinacy of the criminal elements.
