According to residents, prices of food items have continued to increase even though prices have dropped in other states and rural areas. Talatu Danjuma, a tomato seller at the Bwari market, revealed that the price of a basket of tomatoes has increased from N5,000 to N16,000 due to the high cost of transporting goods from the farms resulting in fuel scarcity.
Blessing Yohanna, a yam seller, has also expressed concern over the naira scarcity affecting her business. She stated that most transactions are now cashless, and traders in rural areas do not accept electronic transfers, causing her N30,000 to be held up due to network issues. The cost of a yam tuber has also increased from N2,500 to N3,000 due to the inclusion of POS charges.
Philip Abang, another resident, condemned the exorbitant charges imposed by POS operators, describing them as "outrageous." He also expressed his disappointment that the Supreme Court's pronouncement on the return of old notes of N500 and N1,000 has not alleviated the plight of the people. He appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari's government to take urgent steps to tackle these challenges and save the masses.
A survey also revealed that food prices have increased slightly or remained static. A bottle of palm oil that previously sold for N100 now costs N1,200, while a bag of rice still costs between N37,000 and N45,000, depending on the brand or if it is local or foreign. A cup of melon (egusi) now costs N400 instead of N300, a crate of eggs costs N2,500 instead of N2,200, and a kilo of beef costs N3,500.
The rising food prices have caused great concern among residents struggling to make ends meet. The fuel and naira scarcity has made it difficult for businesses to operate effectively, and the increase in food prices has made it even more challenging for residents to provide for their families. The government must take urgent steps to address these challenges to alleviate the hardship experienced by the people.