Nigerians lament surge in food prices as Yuletide approaches

Nigerians continue to express concerns over the relentless surge in the prices of foodstuffs and other edibles, especially with the yuletide approaching.

Some residents of Abuja, who spoke in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria on Friday, stated that the prices of most food items are unaffordable for the average citizen.

While some believe that buying items in advance may help families survive during the yuletide, others lament the lack of financial resources to do so.

A public servant and resident of Bwari, Mr Adamu Bello, said the situation was becoming worrisome, especially in local communities where three square meals have now become a luxury.

“It is getting worse daily; people can hardly feed three times a day, even though they try to manage their resources to buy what they can afford.

“Only those with sufficient funds can buy foodstuffs in bulk now to save costs in the coming festive season, and how many have the money with all the high bills to pay?” he said.

He urged the government to intervene to find lasting solutions to the rising cost of food.

A businesswoman, Mrs Esther Awoniyi, stated that the prices of rice, cooking oil, and other essentials have risen above the salaries of many workers, making it difficult for them to buy in bulk.

She noted that in the past, many would have purchased bags of rice and other food items in September and October in preparation for Christmas celebrations.

According to her, with the hard economic situation, people are struggling to make ends meet as food prices continue to rise due to inflation.

“There’s too much to worry about, but food is paramount; as Nigerians, we will always find ways to survive the festivities.

“We are hopeful that the prices of some items may be reduced by December, but the money may not be sufficient to buy as much as we used to or intend to.

“As it stands, many of my customers say they do not intend to buy now because they may end up consuming everything before the yuletide,” she said.

Dr Anu David mentioned that the price of rice, the country’s staple food, has risen above the minimum wage of the average worker.

According to her, the incessant increase in food prices has affected eating habits in many homes and is likely impacting the nutritional balance of growing children.

She remarked that there is no need for Nigerians to be anxious about the cost of living in the remaining months.

David suggested that those who can afford to buy and store food now should do so while prices are still favourable.

Mr David Zhwahu explained that despite the rising prices, he had bought and stored food items ahead of the yuletide.

“This cost me a lot because it was like two times the price of some items. I bought a bag of Nigerian-grown rice for N86,000, and now it is almost N100,000.

“Not everyone has the money available to buy and store, as there may be other pressing issues at hand.

“I had to purchase them with my savings to avoid the price hike, and truly, it is becoming unpredictable. I believe the prices of food items may drop by December because of the harvest,” he said.

(NAN)