The price of cassava flakes, popularly known as garri, and rice has increased more than 50 per cent in the Enugu metropolis.

A market survey conducted on Thursday in Enugu showed that prices of foodstuffs such as garri and rice have increased by 50 per cent in the metropolis. The survey showed that a cup of garri that sold for ₦150 in April now goes for ₦250, while a five-litre paint bucket is sold for between ₦ N4,000 and N4,300. Similarly, the current price of a bag of garri is ₦45,000 against N₦30,000 in April.

At the Garki Market, Enugu, the price of a 50kg bag of foreign rice rose from between ₦70,000 and ₦75,000 to between ₦95,000 and ₦100,000, depending on the brand.

Depending on the brand, a 50kg bag of local rice is sold for between ₦80,000 to ₦85,000.

Gladis Ugwu, a garri seller at the New Market, said that the only way to reduce the high cost of garri would be by securing farmlands and stopping the exportation of the produce to other countries.

Ms Ugwu said the commodity’s exportation had affected the produce’s availability in the country.

Arinze Ozor, a rice seller at Ogbere Main Market, said the country’s high rice cost would persist if the government failed to act urgently to address food insecurity.

Mr Ozor said the traffic of foodstuff buyers in his shop had reduced since the prices of every item had increased.

A buyer, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, attributed the high cost of living in the country to the removal of subsidy from petroleum products.

(NAN)