Barely a day to Christmas the Christians celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, the Price of various goods and services have risen in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

This is the observation of The Tide reporters who went round major markets, motor parks and shopping malls within the Port Harcourt city.

A meat seller at Mile 1 Market, Diobu, Port Harcourt, Mr. Ndifereke said that goat sold at N15,000 before the Yuletide now goes for N22,000 while goat head sold at the rate of N500 is now N1,000 indicating a 50 per cent increase in price.

Ndifereke attributed the increment to the general economic crisis in the country as well as the transportation of most agricultural products from the far North.

“You know, the Hausas are in change of cattles, goats, yam, tomatoes, onions, pepper etc. We have to go there,  buy them and them transport them at high costs down here.

So, at the end, the price would just climb up.” Mr. Ndifereke said.

He expressed displeasure over rising rate of Youth Unemployment in Nigeria, noting that many youths have taken to such negative vices as armed robbery and kidnapping as a result of frustration occasioned by the worsening economic situation in the country. He observed that even those into private enterprise are not better off either because of enormous expenditure which leaves them with little or no gains at the end of the day.

Also speaking, a trader, Mr. U.D. Fred was not happy with the rising cost of major commodities especially rise but said the minimal price increase recorded 50 depended on the quality of the commodity.

Mrs. Judith Gwaziem, a trader in Port Harcourt Market observed that a basket of tomatoes which sold at N5,000 now goes for between N9,500 – N10,000 depending on the bargaining power of the buyer. Also, a basket of onions formerly at N15,000 now sells at N35,000 while a bag of pepper sold before at N7,000 now goes for N12,000. She attributed the increment to flooding which beverly affected the seedlings earlier in the year, adding that despite these changes in price, the buyers are still insisting on the old price.

Mrs Gwaziem, however appealed to the state government to encourage the youths to venture into the lucrative field of agriculture by providing the enabling environment and farm inputs, implements and subsidies. She identified agriculture as very important and necessary to the growth and development of any nation and Nigeria, she said, should not be an exception.

Mr. Obodo a poultry dealer and Mrs. Thereza Obamanu, a yam trader also bared their minds on the increment in the price of commodities during the yuletide. While Mr. Obodo said many people now price of the latter, Mrs. Obamanu noted that before Christmas, 100 tubers of yam sold at N15,000 at the rate of N150 each by now sold at N25,000 at the rate of N250 each. The reason, she said, is due to rising cost of transporting yam from the North to the destinations.

A garri seller, Miss Ruth Fabake observed that the season has not affected the price of the commodity as it does not constitute a major staple food during the celebration. The same goes for oil (palm oil and groundnut oil) whose sellers said are yet to record any price increment.

In major motor parks visited by our reporters, it was gathered that while transportation fares have increased in some routes, others remain largely unaffected. For instance, from Port Harcourt to Aba in Abia State that was N400 before the beginning of the season is now N500 while Port Harcourt to Calabar and Bayelsa remain the same.

All the traders and service providers who spoke to our reporters appealed to the government to consider the poor masses in their various policies and programmes. They are however optimistic that the 2011. General Elections would be free and fair towards bringing the needed change in the country to better the lots of Nigerians.

Ozibo Ozibo/Kelechi Awulohya/Esther Ihekoromadu