Nigerians have continued to express concern over the endless surge in the prices of foodstuff and other edibles daily, especially with the yuletide approaching. Some residents of Abuja, who spoke in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday, said that prices of most food items are unaffordable for an average citizen. While some say that buying the items ahead may help families survive during the yuletide, others lamented the lack of financial resources to do so.
Mr Adamu Bello, a public servant and resident of Bwari, said that the situation was becoming worrisome, especially in local communities where three square meals was now a luxury. “It is getting worse daily; people can hardly feed three times a day and even though they try to manage resources to buy what they can afford. “ Only those with enough money can buy foodstuff in bulk now to save cost in the coming festive season and how many have the money with all the high bills to pay,’’ he said.
He urged the government to intervene to find lasting solutions to the rising cost of food. Mrs Esther Awoniyi, a businesswoman, said the prices of rice, cooking oil and others have risen above the salaries of many workers, making it difficult for them to buy in bulk. She said that in the past, many would have bought bags of rice and other food items in September and October, in preparation for the Christmas celebration.
According to her, with the hard economic situation, people are just struggling .