Benue, a central Nigerian state which prides itself as “the food basket of the nation” is experiencing scarcity as cost of food items skyrockets, according to some residents of Makurdi, the state capital.

Doofan Gbor, a business woman who lives in the city, told NAN on Tuesday, that she was surprised at the sharp hike in prices of food items in the market.

According to her, a kilo of meat which was N1,500 has gone up to N2,000, while a custard rubber of Irish potatoes selling for N1,500 is now N2,200.

She said that custard rubber of tomato, which was sold for N600 was now N2,000 and a custard rubber of pepper sold for N300 was now N1,500.

Mrs Gbor said that times were hard, especially for those who were state civil servants as the new minimum wage had not yet been implemented in Benue.

“With the way food items are going high every day in the market, I just hope our Muslim brothers are able to celebrate Sallah without putting a hole in their pockets,” she said.

A civil servant, Edward Mendie, also lamented the late payment of salary to state workers as the cost of living was going high every day.

He pleaded with the government to lessen the plight of the masses as Muslim faithful celebrate Sallah in order to prepare for the celebration with their families.

According to Mr Mendie, food items in the market go up every day and this has been a challenge.

“Food items like garri, beans, ice fish, vegetables are now very expensive, one titus ice fish goes for N500 and N1,000 while a custard rubber of garri goes for N1600,” he said.

He said a kilo of goat meat now goes for N2,200 instead of N1,500 while a kilo of beef was now N2,000.

A shop owner, Dorathy Ihembe, said she had not been able to stock up her shop with all necessary items because people would not want to buy anything if she increased the cost of things in her shop.

Mrs Ihembe lamented that she could not get plastic coke in the market as it was scarce and a pack of medium plastic coke was now sold for N1, 800 against the initial N1, 300.

She said the high cost of beans made her not to sell it in her shop again as the custard rubber was now N2,600 as against N1,500.

(NAN)