By Matthew Denis
Prices of food items have gone up in major markets in Ilorin, the
Kwara State capital as Muslims began to shop for the forthcoming
Eid-el- Fitr celebration.
A market survey conducted by this medium revealed that prices of
commodities like beverages, foodstuffs and frozen foods have increased
slightly.
During visits to major markets in the metropolis such as Mandate
ultramodern modern market, Ipata market, Obbo Road, Yoruba Road and
Oja Tuntun, it was observed that the cost of rice, beans, catfish,
potatoes, sugar and vegetable oil, among others have increased.
Some traders, who spoke to this medium noted that the prices went up
few weeks ago.
The owner of a provision shop at Obbo Road, Mrs Folake Abiodun, said a
bag of rice which was sold for N13, 000 weeks ago, now costs N13, 500,
while a bowl goes for N500 as against N450 it sold previously.
“A tray of evaporated milk, which sold for N4,000 has risen to N4,
200, while a bag of beans increased from N35,000 to N44,000,’’ Abiodun
said.
Another foodstuff seller, Alhaja Zainab Abdulqudus, said that a 10kg
of Golden Penny Semovita had increased to N2, 900 from N2, 800, while
a sachet of Milo refill goes for N950 instead of N900.
A Meat seller, Ibrahim Danladi, said that the lap of a cow which was
sold for N25, 000 now sells for N29, 000.
Findings also revealed that a 25 litre of groundnut oil now costs N16,
600 as against N10, 200 few weeks ago, while the same quantity of palm
oil now sells for N10, 500 instead of N8, 500.
A bag of garri now costs N15, 000 from N11, 000 it sold recently.
“A basket of tomatoes which costs N4, 000 before now, is sold at N22, 000.
“A basket of pepper which we used to sell for N4,000 now costs N8,000,
while a sack of onions sold for N8,000 now goes for N11,000,’’ Mrs
Kudirat Yakub, a pepper seller stated.
This medium also gathered that a kilogramme of catfish rose from N500
to N750, while a medium-sized chicken now goes for N2, 500 as against
N1,500.
While speaking on the hike in price, a trader, Bolanle Yusuf said,
“The fact of the matter is that people are taking advantage of the
high demand for the commodities.’’
Meanwhile, some customers who spoke to this medium called on the
traders not to deliberately increase the prices of food items for
undue profits during the festive period.
