By Stephen Udesinanna , Akubulu Ngozi , Deborah Christopher, Grace ihie
Residents in Ekiti State have lamented over the hike in food items as a result of the cash crunch in the country.
Speaking with our correspondents, some traders in major markets in Ado-Ekiti metropolis, lamented that the issue of cash crunch has affected cost of food items.
A trader Amos Emmanuel, who sells rice said that: “Rice has different qualities, for local rice, the one we sell for #1,100 is now #1,200 per Congo.”
Another rice seller Mr Ola Wale said the cost of Naira has really affected his savings as a family man, adding that he spends more on food items.
His words: “I have five children since naira scarcity almost all my income goes to feeding, if this scarcity persist I might go back to my village and start farming.”
He also said that the cost of home made rice stands at #1,400 or #1,500 per Congo. Although, before now it cost #1,300, #1,400.
Another respondent, Mrs. Adetutu Famuyiwa, who supplies garri said that there is hike in the price of guarri which used to be #300 per Congo is now #350.
She said: “I am selling a Congo of garri now at the rate of #350 which used to be #300 per Congo. This is really affecting our sales, we don’t have high patronage as we used to have when it was #300 some are going for cheaper meal.”
Although, Mrs Fadekemi Oladunjoye who sells eggs stated that since the issue of Naira Scarcity, the price of egg has remained the same added that the bigger size per crate is #2,200 while the smaller size is #1,700.
Mrs. Adewale Carolina a trader who sells tomatoes, made it known to our correspondent ,that a rubber of tomatoes which was sold at 10 thousand naira is now sold at 16 to 17 thousand naira.
“Where there might be increments is the retail price, when a buyer don’t have cash, that is he/she intends to pay electronically the big size which is sold at #100 will be #130 while the smaller size which is sold at #90 will be #120 this will help us pay for the cost of Naira.”