Jos residents lament rising costs of foodstuffs, fares as Yuletide approaches

Many Jos residents said on Friday that high cost of foodstuffs and transportation were potential threats to the excitement and joy of Christmas celebrations.

Those who spoke with the newsmen said they would be mindful of their budgets at Yuletide.

Mr Peter Chong, a civil servant, said he would not overstretch himself to celebrate Christmas, as he planned to provide only what he could afford for his family.

“The cost of living is skyrocketing and the means remain stunted; it is therefore a wise decision in my opinion to keep the celebrations in low profile mode.

“If in the past, I provided five chickens, I’ll cut the number to two or three this year to keep within my budget.

“As far as traveling goes, I am avoiding that by any means necessary,’’ he said.

A teacher, Miss Vivian Chomo, said family members must be expecting gifts and money for shopping in the spirit of the season, but economic realities dictated otherwise.

“A sizeable chicken now sells from N7,000 and above; a bag of rice is N50,000 and above, and vegetable oil is N8,500 for four litres.

“Flour is now N1,700 per measure; sugar is N2,300 and the list goes on.

“The sad thing is that salaries have not increased,’’ she lamented.

Chomo added that the high cost of fuel had affected transportation fares, adding that movement would be restricted, as a result.

Also speaking, Mr Godwin Onoja said he started preparing for Christmas since September.

“To reduce the burden at the last minute, I already bought Christmas clothes and shoes for my three children,’’ he said.

He said he would return to his family in Gombe to celebrate Christmas, noting that foodstuffs were cheaper in the state than in Plateau.