By Mike Adeyemi
Less than 24 hours to Christmas, prices of food items in major markets in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital have soared, just as traders lament low patronage.
Findings by this medium on Saturday at the Mandate market revealed that a bag of rice is now sold for N19,000 as against its price of N15,000 about a week ago.
It was observed that a basket of tomatoes, which sold for N6,000 few days ago now go for N15,000, while 1kg of Titus fish has gone up from N1,000 to N1,400.
A kilogramme of turkey which was sold for 1,300 now cost N1, 500 and a crate of eggs is now being sold for N1,400 as against N900 last month.
However, price of bag of beans has dropped from N36,000 to N22,000 and 25kg of palm oil goes down to N10,000 from N11,000.
However, some traders who spoke to National Pilot decried low patronage despite the fact that the Christmas celebration is few hours away.
A tomato seller at the Mandate market, Mrs Sidikat Abdulsalam adduced the escalating cost of commodities to the high cost of transporting the produce from the northern part of the country.
“The price of tomatoes has increased owing to two variables; high transportation cost and growing demand for the commodity,” she explained.
“A basket of tomatoes that was N6,000 before now has increased to N15,000.
“A quarter basket of chili peppers that used to sell for N2,000 is now N5,000,” she lamented.
Similarly, a rice distributor at the market, Mrs Zainab Olabode said the demand for rice has pushed up its price.
“There is high demand for rice for Christmas celebration and this has led to increase in its price. One bowl of rice now cost N700 as against its former cost of N500.
“This has affected my business due to drop in sales. I cannot wait for the festive period to be over, so that the price can normalise again,” she said.
At Obo market in Ilorin, a trader, Mrs. Grace Jolayemi said the cost of palm oil and bag of semovita have remained same.
Meanwhile, scores of passengers travelling to various destinations were stranded at major motor parks in Ilorin, Kwara State at the weekend.
It was observed at the popular Kasmag motor park that the number of vehicles available were inadequate to cater for the huge number of travellers.
Speaking to our reporter, the Secretary Kasmag motor park, Folake Samuel said the large number of travellers has led to increase in fare.
“Before now, Ilorin to Lagos by big Sienna car was N3,500, but it is now N4,000. Transportation to same destination by Sienna cab is now N3,500 as against N3,000.
At the Young Legacy Line, Unity road, cross section of travellers who spoke to our reporter, expressed frustration over the long wait they were subjected to.
Reacting to the development, the Secretary of the park, Damilola Samuel said the management did not envisage the large patronage.
“For us to meet their demand, we have no other option than to wait for vehicles on transit to return.”
She however said, despite the huge patronage, the transport fare remains same.
