The prices of most food items, goods, and services have increased across markets in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and its environs, according to a survey by journalists.
Findings in Abuja on Sunday showed that the price increase was due to the hike in the pump price of petroleum products, occasioned by the Middle East crisis.
The development has caused a strain on both traders, business owners, consumers, and other citizens, as many households say they now spend more on feeding and acquiring basic goods and services.
They called for urgent government intervention to cushion the effect of the price hike.
At the popular Orange market on the Abuja-Keffi Road, referred to as the ‘hub of bulk food market’, a big basket of tomatoes, which sold between N9,000 and N10,000 in February, was sold during the visit between N30,000 and N35,000.
A big bag of onions, which costs between N15,000 and N25,000, is now being sold between N40,000 and N45,000, while a dustbin basket of onions, which used to be between N3,000 and N3,500, is now sold between N4,000 and N5,000.
At Lugbe market, a dustbin basket of sweet potatoes, which was sold between N1,000 and N1,200, is now between N2,000 and N2,500.
Five tubers of yams, which cost between N6,000 and N6,500, are now being sold between N8,000 and N10,000, depending on the size.
One module (mudu) of white beans, which was sold between N800 and N1,300, is now sold between N1,500 and N1,600, while brown beans, which were N1,500, are now N1,800.
At Orozo market, five tubers of medium-sized yams, which are now being sold between N5,000 and N6,000, are now being sold between N8,500 and N9,000, while the small size ones are N5,000.
A module (mudu) of brown beans formally sold between N600 and N700 was now being sold for N1,300.
At Karu market, a big basket of tomatoes, which sold for N32,000, was now being sold for between N38,000 and N40,000
A small basket of pepper, which was sold for N5,000 before, is now being sold for N9,000, while a small dustbin basket of tatashe is now being sold for N6,000.
Five pieces of large yams are now being sold for N15,000, up from N12,000, while a small basket of onions now goes for N5,500, up from N4,000.
At Wuse market, a small dustbin basket of tomatoes, which sold between N3,000 and N24,000, was now being sold for between N6,000 and N8,000.
A dustbin basket of pepper, which sold for N7,000, was now going for between N9,000 and N10,000, while the same measure of tatashe was being sold for N7,000.
A big-sized yam tuber is now being sold at Wuse market between N10,000 and N15,000, while a small-sized one now goes for N8,000.
At Utako market, a dustbin basket of sweet potatoes, formally sold between N1,500 and N2,000, was now being sold between N3,000 and N4,000.
A dustbin basket of onions at the same market is now being sold between N5,000 and N6,000, up from N3,500 to N4,000.
At Garki Modern Market, slight increases and decreases in the prices of some food items were observed, while others remained unchanged.
A dustin basket of big tomatoes dropped from N5,000 to between N4,000 and N4,500, while a dustin basket of Shombo increased from N3,500 to N4,000.
A dustin basket of onions increased from N3,500 to N4,000 while a dustin basket of tatashe increased from N4,000 to N4,500.
At Nyanya market, a medium-sized yam that sold for between N5,000 and N6,000 is now being sold for between N8,500 and N9,000.
The prices of ice blocks, sachet water bags, and cold drinks had increased due to an epileptic power supply and a hike in the price of fuel and diesel.
Simon Adolo, an Imueti table water distributor, said the price hike in sachet water bags was due to higher diesel prices.
Mr Adolo said the company now sells a bag of sachet water to shops at N450, or N500, as against N300 and N350 sold before due to poor power supply.
He appealed to the federal government to find lasting solutions to the country’s electricity problems, enabling small businesses to thrive.
Esther Gabriel, an ice-block dealer in Nyanya market, said the price of her blocks had increased from N500 to N800, depending on the size.
Ms Gabriel said the increase was due to the epileptic power supply in the area.
At the Apo Resettlement Area, a resident, Agnes Joseph, said a bag of sachet water, formerly sold between N350 and N400, is now sold between N450 and N500.
”The scary part is that the distributors are still threatening that the price will still be increased due to the increasing cost of production,” Ms John said.
Similarly, Rosemary Akor, a resident of Apo, also decried the rising cost of some services due to increases in fuel and electricity tariffs.
Ms Akor said her two children had a haircut just a few weeks ago for N1,400, adding, “I was surprised today when I took them to the same salon for a haircut, and I was charged N3,000.”
Rebecca Terve, a baker in the Nyanya area, lamented the increase in the prices of all baking materials.
”The government must find a way around all these so that we can live better,” she said.
Jibrin Abdullahi, a yam seller at Nyanya market, said the transportation fare for a trip of yams from Benue State to Abuja had tripled.
Mr Abdullahi appealed to the government to support them in cushioning the effects of the crisis on their businesses.
Ifeoma Atuegwu, a customer and single mother of three children, said her standard of living was dropping on a daily basis.
Ms Atuegwu appealed to the government to address the factors contributing to the price hike, especially the cost of transportation, to help stabilise the market and standard of living of citizens.
(NAN)
