The price of food items continues to rise in Bwari, FCT, amid fuel and naira shortages, leaving residents grumbling in dire straits.
A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who spoke to residents on Friday, gathered that the price of food items has continued to rise indefinitely as against the decline in prices in the country and rural areas.
Mrs. Talatu Danjuma, a tomato seller at Bwari market, said the price of the commodity has increased in a short period of time.
“A basket now sells for N16,000 instead of N5000 and N6000.
Danjuma attributed the increase to the high cost of transporting goods from farms, due to fuel shortages.
Mrs Blessing Yohanna, a yam seller, on the other hand, expressed concern that the scarcity of naira is affecting her business as most transactions are now cashless, and traders in rural areas will not accept electronic transfers.
“Around N30,000 of my money is still suspended due to network issues around the transfer.
“Five yam tubers that used to sell for N2,500, now cost N3000 because we have to include POS (Point of Sale) charges,” Yohanna said.
Another resident, Mr. Philip Abang, condemned the excessive charge by the POS operator, describing it as “outrageous”.
“Queues are increasing every day at banks and filling stations, a situation that affects business.
“I think the announcement by the Supreme Court on the return of the old N500 and N1,000 notes will ease the situation in this country.
“It is unfortunate that people are still rejecting the old money and the new money is not there until now,” said Abang.
He, therefore, appealed to the Federal Government, to take urgent measures to address the challenge, with the aim of saving the masses.
“I have to be at the bank at 4:00 in the morning, to choose a number, to ask for money, it’s bad,” Abang said.
A survey by NAN also revealed that the price of food items in general has been slightly higher or remained static, as a bottle of palm oil which was sold at N100, is now sold at N1200.
However, a bag of rice still sells for between N37,000, and N45,000 depending on the brand, whether it is local or foreign.
A cup of egusi (melon), now sells for N400 instead of N300, and an egg is now N2500 instead of N2200, and a kilo of beef now costs N3500.