With less than three days to Christmas, foodstuff sellers in Kabusa Market in Abuja Municipal Area Council, AMAC, of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja on Thursday lamented poor patronage and unfavourable business condition.
Aminu Danlami, an onion and tomato seller, said: “A big basket of tomato we buy at N22,000 in Mararaba Market was sold at N10,000 in 2022 Christmas period. I paid N1,500 for each for the four baskets as transport to Kabusa Market, and I sell to my customers a rubber basket measurement at N2,500, while it was sold N1,500 in 2022.
“Meanwhile, a 100 kilogram bag of onion at Deidei Market is bought at N85,0000, while in 2022 we bought it at N40,000. I sell a rubber basket measurement to my customers at N2,500 in 2022 but now I sell a rubber basket measurement for N5,000.
“For a 30 kilogram bag of fresh pepper is currently bought at N15,000 in Mararaba Market, and I sell a rubber measurement of fresh pepper at N2,500, but in 2022 it was sold at N1,500.
“Meanwhile, a measurement of a pepper specie called shongo is sold at N2,500, but was sold also at N2,000 in 2022, and currently a 100 kilogram bag of shongo goes for N32,000 while it was sold N20,000 in 2022.”
However, he said the patronage is low compared to 2022 Christmas period.
“The number of customers patronizing me has drastically reduced because I had high patronage in 2022.
“Most of the customers are complaining about lack of money to buy at the prices we sell to them, and that also had affected my profit.
“Government should consider subsidizing transportation on food stuff to reduce cost in food items”, he said.
Another trader, Ndidiamaka Chukwunevo, said, “I sell a 50 kilogram bag of Nigerian rice at N50,000 but in 2022 it was sold at N36,000.
“I bought a pack of tomato paste at N10,200 but I sell at N10, 600. I bought a 25 liter of palm oil at N30,000 and I sell a 75cl bottle of palm oil at N900 but in 2022 Christmas, it was sold at N700 per 75cl.
Also I sell a 75cl vegetable oil at N1,700 but in 2022 Christmas it was sold at N1,200.
“Many people don’t come to buy as compared to 2022, because some say there is scarcity of cash, and my profit is affected negatively as well.”
The Secretary of Kabusa Butchers Association, Kabusa Market, Musa Usman said, “A lap of cow was bought at N100,00 in 2022, I sell it to customers at N2,600 per kilogram in 2022, but now I buy it at N150,000, and we sell a kg of beef at N3,500.
“We are experiencing low patronage due to the harsh economy and scarcity of cash is also affecting our customers.
“We want Government to subsidize transportation of livestock, help us with state of the art facilities for slaughtering of animals, cooling facilities for preservation of our meat products, and also security.”
A customer, Marvelous Deshi, said, “Prices of food items have skyrocketed due to government policies on fuel and others. I cannot buy enough things this Christmas.
“Government should quickly look at the plight of Nigerians and salvage the situation. It is not easy at all. Even I have closed down my yam business since July 2023 due to the high cost of transportation.”
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