COVID-19: Kaduna residents lament hike in price of food items
COVID-19: Kaduna residents lament hike in prices of food items
Hike
By Mabel Yakubu
Kaduna, April 1, 2020(NAN) Some Kaduna residents have lamented over the hike in the prices of food items, following the stay-at-home order imposed by the state government as part of measures to curtail the spread of COVID-19.
A crosss section of residents who spoke in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday said the rate at which prices of food items have risen, was alarming, as people could not longer afford food.
NAN reports that Gov. Nasir El-Rufai, had on March 23, ordered civil servants to work from home and later imposed curfew in the state on March 27.
A civil servant, Mrs Mary Isaac, said that traders had taken advantage of the current situation to exploit consumers.
“I came to the market to buy a bag of rice which was sold at N22,000 two weeks ago but to my surprise, I was told that a bag of rice was N27,000 and I had no option but to buy.
“I was able to buy, but what about others who can’t afford such amount, how will they cope?” she said.
Isaac appealed to traders to always think about other people when situations like that arose, as not everyone has the money to purchase things when prices go up.
Another resident, Musa Liman said he knew that traders would increase the prices of food items as such has been common with them “as they have no fear of God.”
He said it had not been easy for him to afford some of the food item because of the sudden increase in price, but said he and his family had to manage in order to survive.
According to Liman, the prices of corn, maize, tomatoes and rice have increased in just two weeks and even the traders with old stock have increased their prices without thinking of those who do not have the resources.
”People complained that the government do not care about the common man when it is the common man that lacked compassion for his or her neighbour,” he lamented.
He urged Nigerians to come together as one, in order to fight COVID-19 rather than starving one another to death through the increase of price of food items.
Liman, however, pleaded with the government to stop traders from the habit of increasing price of food items whenever the country is faced with situations.
A motorcyclist, Amos John, said it had not been easy to feed his family with the little money he saved since the state government gave a stay-at-home order as well as banned motorcycles from the road.
“I pray this situation will not lead me to beg in order to feed my family, because I do not know where I will get money as the prices of food items have increased and there is no work for me.
“If a measure of Garri can be sold at N300 as against its former price of N90, then how will people survive in this lockdown as this is an essential food item for most people,” he said.
John therefore advised the government to regulate the prices of food items in the market.
He however commended the Federal and State governments for their efforts in trying to stop COVID-19 from spreading.
“This is the time to help each other, as every Nigerian is in one way or the other affected by this pandemic, it’s not only those who have tested positive for it,” John said.(NAN)
PMY/JEO/MZA
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Edited by Janefrances Oraka/Maharazu Ahmed