Price of basic food items

have increased in most markets in Lagos as the Muslims fasting period (Ramadan) starts last Wednesday.

The Ramadan will last for 30 days from July 10, 2013.

Reports say that the price of fruits and other basic food items like beans, yam, pepper, tomatoes, oranges and water melons have increased.

Correspondents who visited markets in Mile 12, Oyingbo, Oshodi and Ojuwoye  in Mushin where food items are mostly sold, reported the price have increased by  nearly same percentage.

A small-sized tin of beans, which was between N180 and N200 last week, has increased to N300.

A medium-sized basket of tomatoes, which before now went for 6,000 naira, is now 12,000.

Price of a five-litre keg of palm oil has also increased from N1,000 to N1,400, while the 10-litre keg has increased from N2,000 to N2,300.

A foodstuffs seller, Mrs Rukayat Abiodun, said that she could only buy half bags of rice and beans to resell instead of the two bags she had been buying weekly.

“It is because of Ramadan that food items are expensive and it is usually like that.

“Since most of our foodstuffs come from the North, so it is the price they sell to us that we buy and resell,’’ Abiodun said.

The Secretary, Mrs Taibat Borokini, Ojuwoye Market, Mushin, attributed the recent increase in prices of foods to insecurity in the North.

Borokini said that many people had been complaining about the increase in the price of basic food items.

She said that most food items like pepper, tomatoes, cows, goats, onions, ginger were brought from the North, adding that the security situation in the North had made things difficult.

A customer, Mrs Beatrice Akudo, expressed displeasure at the hike in the price of foods as a result of the forthcoming Ramadan.

“Every time the Ramadan is approaching, food items will begin to increase, while some of the items will become unaffordable.

“Medical practitioners always advise us to take fruits and balanced diet, but when you get to the market you can’t afford it.

“A small size of pineapple that went for N100 is now N200,’’ Akudo said.

At the Mushin market, a bag of beans now sells for N26,500 against  the old price of N21,000 in June.

A bag of rice of various brands sells between N9,500 and N10,500 compared with the cost price of N8, 500 in June.

A big bag of garri costs N9,500 compared with the former price of N8, 600.

The small bag of garri now costs N3,700 compared with the former price of N3,300.

At Oshodi market, a 25-litre keg of palm oil is N6,600, up from N5,400 four weeks ago.

A 25-litre keg of vegetable oil costs N8,500 compared with the old price of N7,800, while the five-litre keg of the commodity is now N2, 200 against N2, 000 in June.

Also a piece of beef which was N650, now sells at N950.