Nigerians celebrate Christmas amid hike in prices of goods, foodstuff

Notwithstanding the hike in prices of goods and foodstuff in the market, many Lagosians said they are happy to be alive to celebrate Christmas on Sunday.

Many of them, who spoke to The Guardian are grateful to God for their lives and urged government to intervene and reduce high cost of living in the country.

Findings by The Guardian showed that cost of foodstuff has increased to between 100 to 200 per cent.

For instance, a bag of rice, which used to sell at N35,000 four months ago,  now goes for between  N45,000 or N48,000.

Also, the price of a kilogramme of chicken, rose from N1,500 as of March to about N4,500.

Traders claimed that hike in prices was caused by high transportation due to fuel scarcity and increase in cost of feeds.

A buyer at Boundary market, Ajegunle, Madam Evelyn Obaike said: “The price of foodstuff has gone up just a few days to Christmas. A bottle of oil that sold for N700, is being sold at N1,000. Not only has the price of garri gone up, other items have also gone up.

A livestock seller, Mr. Austin Charles said: “A chicken is sold between N8,000 and N10,000. The price of turkey last year was N25,000,  but it has increased to N50,000

“The increase in price is due to an increase in the price of chicken feed and other things, like drugs. So, the price cannot be the same as last year’s”

Mr. Chinedu Emeke, another trader at Mushin said: “The mood everywhere is looking like January and not Christmas, because no money, no work and nothing is happening, the government is not doing something about.”

A rice dealer at Daleko market, Mushin, Mrs. Ishola Agboluaje, said  apart from the normal seasonal increase,  scarcity of fuel also played a major role on the high cost of foodstuff and other household needs.