Despite complaints of economic hardship and cash scarcity, markets and motor parks in the FCT and other parts of the country are overflowing as Nigerians shop and travel for the yuletide, amidst skyrocketing food prices and hike in transportation fare; PAUL OKAH reports.
Any market or motor park you go to in the FCT, Nasarawa, and other parts of the country, there is a beehive of activities as Nigerians engage in buying and selling of items or buying tickets to travel to their respective villages for the celebration of Christmas or New Year.
This is despite complaints of economic hardship and cash scarcity being experienced by many Nigerians, especially Christians; they are digging into their savings to ensure they celebrate the birth of Christ in a grand style.
Market surveys
During a visit to different markets in the FCT, this reporter observed a beehive of activities as traders haggled with customers over prices of food items, clothes, livestock and other things they needed to celebrate the yuletide.
At Dutsen-Alhaji market, our reporter observed on Tuesday that prices of food items skyrocketed, compared to what was obtainable a few weeks ago, with many residents either buying or overlooking items to cut costs.
For instance, prices of onions, yam, rice, beans, semovita, fish, tomatoes, chicken and other items needed to celebrate the yuletide increased by more than 50 per cent.
Upon inquiries, a sizable chicken was sold for N20, 000, as opposed to N10, 000 a few weeks ago. A bag of 50kg local rice was sold for N85, 000 and above, as opposed to N75, 000 a few weeks ago. Also, five liters of Kings vegetable oil was sold for N20, 500, as opposed to N17, 000.
Similarly, five tubers of sizable yam were sold for N15, 000, while smaller ones were sold for N10, 000, as opposed to N10, 000 and N8, 000, respectively. On the other hand, a bunch of plantain was sold for N7, 000, N5, 000, N4, 000 and N3, 500, depending on the size.
Also, a small bucket of fresh tomatoes was sold at N7, 500, as opposed to N4, 500, while a small paint size of onions was sold for N15, 000.
Similarly, a mudu of yellow garri was sold for N1, 200, while the white version was sold for N1, 000. A mudu of beans was sold for N3, 500, N3, 000 and N2, 500, depending on the type.
Prices of spices and other ingredients needed for preparing different meals have increased by either 50 per cent or 100 per cent, as opposed to what was obtainable a few weeks back.
Speaking with Blueprint Weekend, a civil servant, Robert Adewale, said he was surprised to see the prices of food items have doubled just within a week.
He said, “I don’t know what is going on in this country, but it’s not fair that prices of food items keep increasing on a daily basis. I came to get food items for the house to celebrate Christmas, but I can’t get everything on my list because prices have doubled. Last month, I bought 10 litres of oil at N36, 000. Today, I am being told it’s N45, 000. It’s crazy and unfathomable. How do we celebrate Christmas with the high cost of food items?
“I’ve not even bought a chicken, tomatoes and other items. I have been standing at one point thinking it is a dream that food items will cost double the amount it was just a few weeks back. The traders are not even making sense, blaming it on the high cost of transportation, whereas the government is trying its best, especially with regards to reduction in fuel cost. I sincerely pity those who will travel home. I will just buy what I can and leave the rest. I am not happy.”
Travellers besiege motor parks
Anyone who visits the motor parks these days will be surprised by the large number of Nigerians traveling to their respective villages to celebrate the yuletide, despite the constant complaints of economic hardship and regardless of the high cost of transportation.
When our reporter visited Peace Mass Transit (PMT) in Utako, Abuja, on Tuesday, he observed that, while many had intentions of traveling to different states, they were often required to pay cash, regardless of the transportation cost, which created a business boom for point of sale (PoS) operators.
At PMT, transportation to Abakaliki was N45, 000, Enugu: N40, 000, Umuahia: N47, 000, Port Harcourt: N50, 000, while Afikpo, Ebonyi state, was N47, 000.
At Ifesinachi Transportation Company in Utako, transportation to Aba was N60,000, Umuahia: N60,000, Owerri: N60,000, Awka : N55,000, Asaba: N55,000, Abakaliki: N55,000, Enugu: N50,000, Nsukka : N50,000, Lagos: N48,000, while Onitsha was N55,000.
Furthermore, while GUO charged N65,000 to Afikpo, Ebonyi state and N66,100 to Lagos, Chisco charged N60,000 to Port Harcourt and N55,000 to Lagos.
Youngjet, a less popular transportation company in Utako, charged N55, 000 to Lagos, while Rivers Joy, Utako, charged N65, 000 to Port Harcourt and N70, 500 to Bayelsa. Also, Big Joe Transport Company charged N35, 500 to both Auchi and Benin in Edo state.
Speaking with our reporter at PMT, Utako, a fashion designer, Favour John, said the only reason she was traveling was as a result of her wedding slated for December 29, lamenting the high cost of transportation to her village in Rivers.
She said, “This is the most miserable Christmas I have ever experienced. While coming to the park, I didn’t fathom that I would spend up to N50, 000 on transportation alone to Port Harcourt. I am not happy. If not for my wedding coming up on the 29th, I wouldn’t have bothered to travel back home because I am not traveling just for the sake of Christmas. The discouraging thing is that the fare price will continue to rise till January.
“I was nearly tempted to go back home, but my fiancé advised I should continue with the trip because I need to be in the village to monitor things and plan for the traditional marriage and wedding. I have seen many people turn back because of the cost of transportation. Many people visit other parks to compare prices and decide which transport company to settle with. PMT is cheaper compared to other parks I went to. It seems their agents also visit other parks to see what is happening and then fix their own price.
“Honestly, it is not fair because we are already going through a lot as a people. I tried to check the cost of the flight, but that one is not even possible because I can’t spend close to N500, 000 for a flight. I will advise those who don’t have any business going to the village to just stay where they are and enjoy Christmas. I am even surprised to see many people travelling. I didn’t envisage the crowd. Only God will help us in this country.”
Expert’s admonition
Speaking with this reporter, an economist and public affairs analyst, Stephen Okafor, advised Nigerians, especially Christians, to be moderate in their spending during the yuletide.
He said, ‘There is this spirit that comes with Christmas. Many people tend to spend more than they earn to please friends, colleagues, neighbours and extended family members. In the spirit of Christmas, some people use a week to spend what took them months to save.
“Some attend weddings, traditional marriages and other social events they were not invited to. In the process, they buy drinks, spray money and pull out the stops just to impress people or get a sense of belonging. To them, lavishing money is the only way to celebrate the yuletide, hence all the money they earned from business transactions or salary must be spent within a few hours or days of merriment.
“Interestingly, they become broke and start begging even before the beginning of the New Year. This is because they didn’t plan very well, hence they get into financial trouble all in the name of celebrating Christmas and New Year. As the saying goes, he who fails to plan, plans to fail.
“Therefore, there is a need to always have a budget for everything you do, whether during the yuletide or not. Having a budget will guide you on your expenses, especially if you’re a salary earner. In this yuletide, if you don’t have the financial muscle, don’t engage in avoidable expenses you will face severe hunger in January, which is usually very difficult for those who didn’t plan well.
“It’s not your birthday that’s being celebrated on Christmas day, so don’t get carried away to spend money you will need for the payment of school fees, house rent and expenses. Even those you spent money on during the yuletide will gladly tell you they don’t have money to lend you when you meet them later on, so it’s better for you to be wise and spend moderately during the yuletide to avoid difficulties in January.”
