EASTER: ONITSHA TRADERS LAMENT LOW PATRONAGE AS PRICES OF SOME COMMODITIES TRIPLE
REPORTER: OBY ARINZE
Some hours to the Easter celebration, food stuff sellers in various markets within the commercial city of Onitsha, Anambra State say there are no signs of festivity as patronage remains very low.
Visits by Radio Nigeria to some of the markets revealed the dissatisfaction of both traders and consumers with the current economic situation of the country.
They noted that they could hardly afford what they wanted as a result of the hike in prices worsened by unavailability of cash.
At Ose Okwodu and Ochanja Markets located within the commercial hub of onitsha, prices of some foodstuff had already skyrocketed.
Also, the markets were not in a festive mood as the rush that usually characterized the season years ago was visibly lacking.
The traders, who spoke with Radio Nigeria, blamed the low volume of business on the current economic situation in the country.
One of them, Mrs. Nwamaka Ugwumba, who sells tin tomatoes, and other condiments, complained of low patronage, saying that goods were available, but costly.
She explained that the prices of condiments were still the same but prices of commodities like groundnut oil, salad dressing had risen.
Mrs. Chinelo Obike sells perishable items like carrot, cabbage, tomatoes and pepper. She said the experience this year was unprecedented because of low patronage.
According to Mr. Obike, a basket of tomatoes sold two weeks ago for between #8,000 and #10,000 Naira has now gone up to N30,000 for small basket while big basket is now sold for 45,000 naira
A paint container of tomatoes that used to sell for #1,200 is now sold between #3,000 and # 3,500 naira while a small bag of onion now goes for #18,000 as against the former price of #8000.
The big bag of the commodity is #30,000 naira from the former #15,000.
Mr. Ejike Ani, who deals mainly in rice, beans, wheat and corn, said there was no increase in prices but lamented decline in patronage, noting selling with transfer and POS had really affected them.
A bag of 50kg of rice is sold between #35,000 and #40,000 naira depending on the seed.
At the Chicken section, Mr. Ebuka Henry observed that the patronage was low when compared to previous years.
He said that old layers are sold for #4,500 naira, broilers between # 5,000 and #5,500 naira while the parent stock goes for between #9,000 and #10, 000 naira.
The prices, he noted, might increase this weekend due to easter rush.
The respondents, however, appealed to the Federal Government to be decisive in dealing with the worsening economic situation in the country.
EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU
