Prices of food stuffs have risen at the various markets in Benin, barely three weeks to Christmas, correspondent reports.
Our check in Benin food stuff markets on Thursday showed that a 50-kg bag of rice which sold for between N8,000 and N8,500 in November had risen to between N10,000 and N11,000.
Small and big baskets of tomatoes that hitherto sold N4,000 and N7,500 respectively now sold for N8,000 and N15,000.
A bag of onion at N35,000 has gone to between N25,000 and N28,000 while four litres of palm oil and vegetable oil have also skyrocketed from N1,100 and N1,000 to N1, 500 and N1,400 respectively.
A small bag of fresh pepper now sells for N7,500 as against N2,500 few months ago.
In the same vein, different brands of tin tomatoes now sold for between N1,800 and N2,800 compared to between N1,200 and N1,500 they were sold few months ago.
A carton of fish now sells for N10,000 as against N7,000 while a measure of “Ogbono” also goes for N4,500, against N4,000.
Prices of garri, beef, beans and melon are on the high side but prices of plantains and yams are relatively cheap because this is their season.
A pepper and tomatoes seller at Ikpoba Hill Market, Mrs Mary Osasu, attributed the rise in food prices to hike in transportation fares.
“The hike in transport fare is as a result of scarcity of fuel; wholesalers now pay more to transport their goods from one place to another.
‘’They have to increase the prices of their goods so that they can make profit, so when we buy at high prices, we have to sell at high prices so that we can make gains,’’ she said.
Another trader, selling imported food items, Mr Solomon Idehen, traced the price hike to less money in circulation and devaluation of the naira.
‘’Workers are owed salaries, pensioners are owed their pension, how will there be money in circulation to invest in businesses.
‘’When people buy more from us, we have enough money to buy and supply more goods to the market.
‘’When we don’t have enough money to buy these goods, which are now very expensive due to devaluation of the naira; things will also be expensive in the local market,’’ he said.
A consumer, Mrs Eseohe Odigie, expressed concern about the price hike the area, saying that the situation might go unabated if the current fuel scarcity was not tackled.
She added that the current economic situation was not favourable to the rich and poor, private and public sector businesses and civil servants in the country.
She called on government at all levels to formulate strategies to bring the country’s economy out of its current poor state.