Some residents of the Enugu metropolis and foodstuff sellers have expressed concern over the high cost of food items, particularly tomatoes, pepper and crayfish.

‎Some sellers, during a market survey on Friday, attributed the high cost of commodities to the off-season and high transportation costs.

‎Joe Agu, a dealer in tomatoes and pepper at New Akwata Market, Enugu, said that a big basket of tomatoes now goes for N125,000, up from N80,000 in April.

Mr Agu added that a bag of pepper now sells for N75,000, up from N50,000 in April.

Gift Ekwem, a tomato seller at Garki Market, Enugu, said that a 4.5-litre paint bucket of tomatoes is now sold for N12,000, up from N5,000 in April.

According to her, some sellers do not have the goods in their shops due to the high cost of the produce.

She added that some traders have suspended purchases while others buy in small quantities.

Ufon Duke, a trader at Ogbete Main Market, said that she could no longer afford to buy tomatoes and pepper for resale because prices had gone beyond her budget.

Ms Duke said she would wait for the prices of the two produce items to come down before she could restart the business, as she risked making no profit due to low patronage.

She attributed the high prices to the off-season period and the prevailing economic situation in the country.

Nnena Eboh, who deals only in pepper at Mayor Market, said she could no longer sell N200 pepper to customers due to the high cost of the produce.

Meanwhile, a crayfish seller at Ogbete Main Market, Irene Ozo, said that a bag of crayfish now goes for N350,000, up from N320,000 in April.

Another crayfish seller at Mayor Market, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that a 4.5-litre paint bucket now goes for N13,000, up from N11,000 in April.

Ngozi Ochi, a civil servant, described the situation as unbearable, saying it had become increasingly difficult for average Nigerians to feed their families.

Ms Ochi said that prices of tomatoes, pepper and crayfish had risen sharply within a month, adding that she could no longer afford to buy them.

‎“It baffles me as the prices of tomatoes and peppers continue to increase daily; I cannot afford to buy fresh tomatoes until the prices reduce,” she said.

Another resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that the only alternative she had was to buy dried peppers, satchet tomatoes or palm fruits for stew until the prices change. 

(NAN)