,,,, Consumers express frustration, call for price control measures.
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By Dada Ahmed in Lokoja.
Residents of Lokoja, Kogi State, in north-central Nigeria, have once again called on the state government to establish price control measures as an essential step toward curbing the rapid rise in food prices.
They voiced these concerns on Saturday at both the old and international markets in Lokoja, where a measure of beans has surged to N5,000, up from N3,000 just two months ago.
In separate interviews with our correspondent, residents expressed frustration and anger over the continuous hike in prices of food and other essential goods.
Mrs. Hajarat Suleiman, who said she came to the old market intending to buy beans at N3,500 per measure, expressed disbelief to find that the price had increased to N5,000 for the same quantity.
“Life is becoming unbearable for most residents in Lokoja, due to the alarming rate at which market sellers set prices for food.
“No amount of money seems to be enough to buy everything you need in Lokoja’s markets.
“The Ododo government should come to our aid by establishing price control measures that will help stabilize food prices.
“He has made a good start, but he should consider addressing the exploitative pricing attitudes of both market women and men, encouraging them to lower the costs of their food items,” Suleiman appealed.
Another housewife, Hajia Alimat Abdullahi, also lamented the rising prices of food.
“In other states, media reports show that prices of food items have started to drop, making life easier for consumers. However, in Lokoja, market women continue to raise prices unchecked, especially for foodstuffs.
“I am appealing to our governor to take action to ease the economic hardships affecting nearly every household in the state,” Abdullahi also urged.
Mrs. Beatrice Nwanko, who runs a restaurant in Lokoja,told The Reporters that the current sharp rise in food prices has forced many of her colleagues out of business.
“Many of my customers have stopped coming to my restaurant because I had to increase my prices to keep up with the high cost of raw food items.
My concern now is that if food prices keep rising, I may soon find myself joining my colleagues in the ranks of the unemployed.
“The Kogi State government should find a way to address this issue,” she said.
In their response, some market women who spoke also spoke with our correspondent attributed the high cost of food stuffs to the rising cost of transportation, among other factors.
“I don’t derive joy charging high prices for my food items, but I pay exorbitant transportation fees to bring my goods to market.If the government can reduce fuel prices, transportation costs will decrease, which would positively impact food prices and make life easier for everyone.”
A survey by our correspondent at the two Lokoja markets on Saturday revealed that other food items, including yams, garri, maize, and soup ingredients, also followed suit in exorbitant price tags.
