Traders and residents in Ibadan, Oyo State have continued to decry the ever-rising prices of food items and other consumable and non-consumable goods.
Traders at the Bodija market visited by our reporter have also had a fair share of the weakened currency resulting in the unstable prices of the various food items.
One of the traders at Bodija market, Mrs Folashade Ayodeji, blamed the government of the day for not providing enough measures before taking bold steps to revive the economy left in shamble by the previous administration of General Buhari.
She said ” a bag of rice is now N60,000, Beans is N75,000, Maize is N57,000, Fuel is N650 per litre, a carton of Indomie is N6500, a tin of Titus Sardine is N900. We no longer get much profit on sales due to this hike in the prices.
She added, this inflation has made many Nigerians resort to reviewing their spending and prioritising their needs over wants.
A yam seller Mr Sukanmi said “five tubers of yam which we used to sell for N3,000 now goes for N5,000.
A housewife, Mrs Rashidat Oladosu said “we hardly eat three square meals now due to the hike in the prices of things. Things are expensive generally, cooking gas is now N1,200 per kg, Spaghetti is N700, honestly, surviving in this country is hard because the cost of living too is high.
According to Central Bank of Nigeria, the increased rate of inflation pegged at 28.92% in January 2024, has a great effect on the cost of living and adversely affects the standard of living of both the rich and the poor.
Commenting on the situation, a businessman, John Lawal, said ” husbands now have to increase the amount they give their wives for upkeep because of the inflation. Housewives needs to be productive these days. A wife who has no job or skill will put more pressure on the husband”.
Mr Rufus Oladimeji, a marketer with one the commercial banks, stated that reducing fiscal costs of short term intervention could help address the hike in prices.
In addition, Miss Fola Eyitayo, a student of the University of Ibadan advised the Federal government to ensure introduction of policies that will address the inflation. She said “I’m not being given extra pocket money for food from home despite the hike in the prices of foodstuffs, most times, I eat once or twice a day.
Report by Adeleke Maria for IbadanCity ANNOUNCER
