Protest Traders in Lokoja, Kogi State capital, trooped to the streets in protests against the hike in the price of food items across the federation.
The price of food items in Nigeria has been on the increase since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu retired the subsidy regime in Nigeria on May 29, 2023, immediately after taking oath of office as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The hike in food prices became complicated when the naira was floated against the dollar with an increased rate of insecurity in the country.
Kidnapping, banditry, and terrorism have worsened the economic hardships as farmers abandoned their farmlands because of threats from the criminals.
One of the protesting traders, who claimed to have closed her shop because of low patrina6, said “Mudu of rice which was selling for N800 now cost N1,700. This is because a bag of rice which cost N35,000 has now increased to N65,000. With this, we cannot make our own profit.
“This is the reason we are calling on the government to come to our aid by subsidizing commodities grown in Nigeria. We are tired of low sales,” she said.
Another trader lamented that despite efforts by traders to part with some profits on goods, poor patronage had become discouraging.
“There is nothing to show for our efforts in terms of expected gains or profit. We are only praying that our labour should not be in vain at the close of trading activities,” she said.
Mrs Adah, a vegetable trader, urged the Federal Government to address the astronomical increase in the cost of food items.
She said, ”Prices of pepper, rice, and beans among others have all gone up, and the hike in a price cut across every item. To worsen the situation, the government is not helping matters.
“We are pleading with the government to assist us to ensure the reduction in the price of food items. We are only managing to eat. The hike in the price of commodities has almost eroded our profit.”
Recall that recently, some market men and women in Niger State protested the hike in food price and economic hardships hitting the country.
Category: World-News
Tag: Protest Erupt in Another State Amidst Hike in Food Price in Nigeria
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Published 2/7/2024 4:56:34 PM