As Christians across the world prepare for the celebration of Easter (birth of Jesus Christ) on Sunday, traders in various markets in Edo State have continued to lament that there are no signs of festivity in sight as patronage is very low.
A visit to some markets in Benin City, the capital of Edo revealed that traders and customers are not happy with the current economic situation in Nigeria, as consumers could barely afford to buy goods because of the hike in prices.
Also, the markets were not in a festive mood as there was no hustling or bustling that usually characterises the season.
A visit to Oba, Oliha, Ogida, Uselu, Useh, Agbado, Oregbeni, Satana, Ekiosa, Ugbighoko, Ogba, Uselu and Adawawa Markets, all in the city centre on Friday showed that there is astronomical increase in the prices of foodstuff.
Ibe Emeka, a rice dealer in Oba Market said the price of foreign rice sales for between N48,000-N50,000 while local rice is N4000.
He said: “ A bag of foreign rice previously sold for N45,000 is now N48,000- N50,000. depending on the brand, while the Indian rice (Agric), which was 50000, now goes for 53,000.
‘‘Nigerian rice is not cheap either, the price increase has also caused reduction in profit, We now sell for almost the cost price.’’
A buyer at Agbado market, Omosefe Edith, lamented the high cost of foodstuff, saying the difference in prices of goods in a matter of days is alarming.
Also, a chicken seller who never wanted her name in print explained that a big-size chicken goes for N15000, while a not-too-big chicken sells for N12000.
A trader at Oliha Market, Mrs. Tracy complained of low patronage, saying the goods are available but costly.
But the prices of tomatoes and pepper were a bit low, a situation, Mrs. Okon, a trader in Oregbeni Market, attributed to the Ramadan fast.
She said: “What we are experiencing now is quite different from what we have seen before. A basket of tomatoes last month sold for N25,000, and now it has gone down to N22,000; also a basket of fresh pepper, which sold for N29,000 last month, now sells for N25,000. It’s unlike the Easter period, as people are not eating.
“A basket of onion is N15,000 now as against former N22,000, there is no money but we are waiting for customers to come and buy.”
Frozen food dealers are not left out, as they are in pain over poor electricity supply and the cost of frozen food.
A frozen food dealer in Uselu Market, Mrs. Adeyelu said a carton of turkey now sells for N27,000, a carton of full chicken N25,000, carton of chicken lap N24,000, while a carton of gizzard goes for N32,000.
“How many days to Easter, we have not seen anybody? Many people are trooping into our cold room but they are coming out without buying anything because of increase in price,” she lamented.
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