Traders urge FG to tackle insecurity to address food inflation

Some traders in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have called on the Federal Government to address insecurity, which has led to food insecurity and soaring food prices in the country.

The traders in Masaka market made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday.

The traders said that insecurity and high transportation costs were some of the reasons responsible for the high cost of foodstuff.

NAN reports that the prices of foodstuffs have been on a steady increase, leaving many Nigerians unable to buy various food items.

The latest Inflation report from the National Bureau of Statistics(NBS) said that food inflation increased to 40.87 per cent in June 2024.

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Yusuf Abdullahi, a Rice wholesaler, said that the price of a 50kg bag of Mama Gold rice had increased to about N75,500 while a 50kg bag of Stallion Optimum was selling for between N77,000 to N 80,000.

“If the government can address the issues of insecurity so that farmers can go to the farm comfortably without being attacked or killed, the prices of food items would not be this high,” he said.

Amarachi Eze, a Garri seller, said if the government was able to tackle insecurity and look into the price of fuel, the prices of food would reduce significantly.

According to her, if these two issues are addressed, Nigerians will be able to buy food and feed properly.

“A measure of white garri which was sold at N500 three months ago is now selling at N1,200, while a measure of yellow garri which was sold at N600 is now selling for between N1,300 and N1,500.

“ How can the common man keep up with the continuous increases?

“Customers are complaining. Some of them just walk away when they hear the prices because they cannot afford it.”

Edna Moses, an egg seller, said life has become so difficult for her because her business was no longer thriving.

Moses said since the removal of the fuel subsidy the prices of food had skyrocketed because of the cost of transportation.

A crate of eggs that was sold for N3,000 last month is now selling for between N4,000 to N4,500 depending on the size.

“ Also a loaf of bread that was sold for N1,000 is now selling for between N2,500 and N3,000 depending on the brand and quality.

” To be honest with you, life is difficult for so many of us, our business is no longer moving because of the economic hardship,” she said.

Ishaya Bala, a meat seller in the market, said that many people were not buying beef anymore because they could not afford it.

Bala, who is also a farmer, said that one kilogram of beef which was sold at N3,000 is now selling for N5,000.

According to him, how many Nigerians can afford to buy meat at this price?

“This is really affecting our business”.

Bala said his fellow farmers in Nasarawa state had attributed the high cost of foodstuff to the removal of fuel subsidy.

He called on the government to look into the price of petrol which he said had increased transportation costs.

“ Three months ago the price of food was already high but the current prices have skyrocketed.

“This has left many people struggling to even buy the basic food items while some people cannot even buy at all,” he said.