About 11 days to Christmas festivities, the prices of food items have risen in Kaduna metropolis and environs as Christians and Muslims thronged popular Kaduna Central Market to make purchases.
The Muslims are of the view that now is the right time to make their own purchase for new year since the New Year day is a festive period for all, irrespective of religion, tribe and language.
A survey conducted by DAILY POST Friday revealed that a bag of rice now sells for between N10,500 and N11,000 as against N10,000 and N10,200 few months ago.
Mrs Juliana Katung, a food stuff seller at Kaduna Central market, told DAILY POST that a big bag of Garri now sells for N7, 500 as against N6,000 and N6,500 some months ago. She explained that the increase was due to the hike in transport fare usually witnessed during every festive period.
Her words, “As you are aware, Kaduna being the centre of the north, experiences changes in everything during festivity. Almost every commodity always add little price during festive periods, be it Christmas, Sallah, and even crisis etc. At any point in time, the price of foodstuffs are subject to change due to cost of transportation. Those foodstuffs are conveyed from far states to Kaduna. Lots of risk are involved. Therefore, you don’t expect the price to remain stable,” she said.
Katung, however, noted that the price of a 25-litre keg of palm oil remained stable at N5,000 while a 25-litre keg of vegetable oil sells for N7,500 as against N6,300 some months ago.
A male civil servant, Mr Abuh Dosha, who said he has not been paid salary for the last four months, expressed regrets that he could not purchase rice for his family members and other dependants due to the non-payment of salary.
“I will be very happy if the state government can pay our salary arrears, especially, December salary before the Christmas because it will make me and my family celebrate the season,” he said.
It was also learnt that the prices of children’s clothes had gone up in Kaduna Central Market as only few available wears were rushed by would-be buyers.
Solomon Onyemechi, a trader at the Kaduna Central Market, attributed the increase in prices to high demand.
Onyemechi said clothes for children under the age of four, which sold for N3,000 about two weeks ago, now cost N4,500.
Funmi Aina, another trader at Kawo Kaduna market, said customers often prefer to buy new clothes for themselves and their children, adding that this leads to price surge.
“Christmas period is a good period for all businessmen and women because we make much gains during the period. Almost everybody celebrate during the period. Those that have the belief that Christmas is for Christians alone, especially Muslims, look forward to new year festival. So, one must surely celebrate one of the festivals.”
“That is why we always look forward to Christmas and other festive period. Traders always smile home. Though they are more risks involved during festive period,’’ she said.
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