Prices of basic food items soar in Umuahia markets – Survey

Barely a week to this year’s Christmas and New Year celebrations, the prices of basic food items have soared in major markets in Umuahia, the Abia capital.

A survey conducted by the newsmen in Orie Ugba, Isi Gate, Apummiri, Ogwumabiri-Ossah markets and Ubani Ultra Modern Market in Umuahia on Tuesday shows that prices of some of the items have shot up beyond the reach of the common man.

A 50 kg of branded local rice, which was sold for between N40,000 and N46,000 in November, had risen to between N48,000 and N51,000.

Similarly, the price of foreign rice jumped from N55,000 to N60,000 as at Monday.

A four-kg container of garri now sells for N1,600 as against the N1200 and N1400 in November.

The price of five-litre vegetable oil rose from N7,500 to N9,500, while a carton of tomato paste rose from N3,500 to N5,500.

The survey also reveals that a bag of crayfish went up from N120,000 to N125,000, while a bucket of crayfish rose from N3,000 to N3,500.

A 25-litre gallon of palm oil, which was sold for N21,000, rose to N24,000.

A 100-kg bag of stockfish heads, sold between N170,000 and N185,000 as at November, now sells for between N175,000 and N190,000.

Also, a kilogramme of Mackerel and Scumbia Fish rose from N1,800 to N2,100, while a kilogramme of Chicken rose from N3,000 to N3,500.

The price of a kilogramme of Turkey, which was sold for between N4,000 and N5,000, went up to between N5,500 and N7,000, depending on its quality and weight.

However, the price of beans, corn, onions and tomatoes recorded a decline within the period under review, in spite of the Christmas mood.

The price of 100-kg of beans (iron) went down to N70,000 from N80,000, while a 100-kg bag of corn now sells for N56,000 against N80,000.

The price of tomatoes also recorded a decline as a basket, which sold for between N50,000 and N55,000 in November, now sells for between N40,000 and N45,000.

A bag of onions goes for between N95,000 and N110,000, from between N130,000 and N140,000.

A foodstuff seller at Isi Gate, Mr Jeremiah Okoro, attributed the rise to the high inflationary rate, increase in demand and cost of logistics.

Okoro said: “It is usual for prices of some food items to rise during the Christmas season because the demand is often higher and above the supply.

“But don’t forget that the rising inflation is a major factor, especially since the fuel subsidy removal, when the price of everything in the market shot up astronomically.

“Another serious challenge is the logistics because it costs so much to transport goods from the North, where they are produced, to the East.”

Another foodstuff seller at Ogwumabiri Market, Ossah, Mr Bright Agomuo, said that insecurity, high cost of transportation and season of production were the factors causing the high cost of food items.

Agomuo described most of the food items presently sold in the market as seasonal and usually expensive during the off-season.

“Also, the issue of insecurity, banditry, kidnapping and other security breaches have made it difficult for farmers to either cultivate or harvest their crops, particularly in the North

Also, Mr Uche Chijioke, a shop owner at Ubani Ultra Modern Market, Umuahia, feared that the high prices would persist until the new year because of the pressure of demand against supply.

He said: “Right now, foreign rice is scarce in the market because of the problem of importation and that is why it is very expensive now.

“I have just few bags of foreign rice in my shop at the moment and customers barely demand for it because it is more expensive.

“The prices of beans and corn have reduced a bit because new ones are now in the market but they will soon go up.

“Don’t forget that the demand pressure is majorly on rice during Christmas season.”

Another shop owner at Apummiri Market, Miss Esther Ezekiel, said that the high cost of food items and the current economic situation had negatively affected her daily sales.

Ezekiel said: “Whenever prices increase, sales will be low compared to when they were affordable.

“It is possible that before the end of this week the prices will still go up, due largely to the Yuletide season.”