Consumers has expressed grief over the high cost of food items, which has caused alot of pains on the people.
Journalist who visited a market in Anambra State discovered that the buyers, seller’s and marketers are putting the blame on increase in dollars as the situation gets worse.
At the Relief Market in Onitsha, the commercial centre and Eke-Awka Market in Awka, a survey showed that the price of 50kg bag of imported rice was sold at N72,000 as it was N51,000 sold in a few weeks ago while a full bag of iron beans was sold at N110,000 while some weeks back it was N89,000
Food items such as, onions, pepper, tomatoes, palm oil and garri have significantly increased by 90 per cent causing hunger among people in the country.
A lady who spoke with journalist identified as Nkechi Egbe, said, “The increase in the price of food items has gone beyond extend of a common man and this is affecting the development, as it was not up to this extend before.
“Sellers are blaming everything on the rise in the dollar, it is a pity. What has the dollar got to do with tomato, pepper, onion, palm oil and garri? Are they imported? The money I brought to the market today did not buy enough food items and it is already exhausted, yet, nothing to show for it.
“This was the same amount I came to the market with a few weeks ago, and after buying things, I had a handful of bags of items, but today, look at the only bag I am carrying, yet the items I bought could not fill the single bag.”
Also, a mother of five, Obioma Chijioke, cried out that fish’s and eggs which was used to be a source of protein has gone beyond the reach of a common man, saying that the development might lead to undernutrition among children if nothing is done immediately.
Chijioke said, “Imported rice was formerly meant for the super-rich, and protein which was only saved for the common citizens was iced fish which sold for between N350 and N400 now is sold from N2,000 for one. The egg which they used to sell out for N50 is now N150. This is bother the citizens about the development.
The marketers and buyers of of food items are blaming the rise in the dollar for this, while some are putting it on bandits for dislodging farmers from their farmlands. It is a pathetic situation and government are expected react,join hands together to fixed the increase in price of food ”
