Residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are expressing their concerns over the soaring prices of onions, forcing them to use the essential kitchen ingredient sparingly.
Many FCT residents have bemoaned the exorbitant cost of onions, some even exaggerating to claim that it is more expensive than gold.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) highlights that a dustbin basket of onions in the FCT is now fetching between N4,000 to N6,500, while a sack is commanding a price ranging from N100,000 to N120,000, depending on the market.
At Gwagwalada market in FCT, the cost of a dustbin basket of onions reached N4,500, while in Wuse market FCT, it ranged from N6,000 to N6,500. In Garki Market in FCT, prices were between N4,700 to N5,000. Meanwhile, in Nyanya market in FCT, the cost varied from N5,000 to N6,500, and in Gosa market, FCT, it was set at N6,500.
The latest National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) Food Price Report for October 2023 reveals a 46.11% year-on-year increase in the average price of 1kg of onion bulb, rising from N405.72 in October 2022 to N592.80 in October 2023. On a month-on-month basis, the price surged by 14.98% from N515.59 in September 2023 to N592.80 in October 2023.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, onions, scientifically known as Allium Cepa, are a ubiquitous kitchen ingredient that adds flavor to various dishes. They belong to the same family as garlic, leeks, and cloves and come in different colors such as white, yellow, and red/purple. Despite the hefty prices, onions offer notable health benefits.
Hajiya Jummai Hassan, the Assistant Director, Clinical Nutritionist and Dietitians at Gwarinpa General Hospital, emphasized the significance of onions in our daily diet due to their health benefits. She noted that onions, being vegetables of the Allium family, are rich in organic sulfur, a potent anti-cancer ingredient.
According to her, onions are vegetables of the Allium family and are rich in organic sulphur which is a powerful anti cancer ingredient.
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“Allium vegetables contain quercetin, an anti-inflammatory, anti-viral and anti-cancer compound.
Hassan said the phytochemicals in onions improve the working of vitamin C in the body, therefore, improving the body’s immunity.
“Onions contain chromium, which assists in regulating the blood sugar, onions also help reduce inflammation and heal infections,” she said.
She said whether cooked or raw, onion was good for the health as a natural antibiotic, although raw onions had higher levels of organic sulphur.
“Eating onions raw (properly washed), taking its juice, or drinking its broth (preparable with honey) is a first-class remedy for numerous diseases of the throat, respiratory tract, intestine, kidney and skin, etc.
“Onions also help especially with hoarseness, cough, flu, and colds among others.
“Boiled onions and its broth is one of the best medicines for all ailments of the respiratory tract, ” she said.
Mrs Aghogho Osagie, a public servant, said she was a lover of onions, however, she had to buy in small quantities and control the quantity she used in cooking.
“Onions have become like gold in FCT, they are so expensive now. One small onion is sold for N100 as against three to four pieces being sold for the same amount before.
“A dustbin basket is like N5,000 depending on where you are buying from.
“When I don’t have onions at home I feel uncomfortable, because I put a lot of onions in almost everything I cook.
“We all love onions in my house, we eat them raw or cooked. Now I just buy it in small quantities and manage it. If what I am cooking requires one medium size, I will use a quarter or half, ” she said.
Also, Mrs Bidemi Adekunle, a Civil Servant, said she could not afford to buy onions in large quantities for now and used them sparingly because of the increasing price.
”I bought three medium-sized onions for N400. I love adding onions to my food but with the price increase, I just have to manage it when cooking,” she said.
Ms Sarah Udoh, a businesswoman, lamented the hike in the price of onions, adding that she used spring onions as an alternative.
”I cannot do without onions in my food. So I must always have onions in my house. I can leave out some other items so that I can buy onions.
“Onion is a natural sweetener. I do not use seasoning cubes to cook, once I put plenty of onions in my food it makes it sweet.
“I have been managing to buy onions, but not in very large quantities, so I alternate them with spring onions because they are far cheaper. I just cut off the onion bulb part and used it,” FCT Resident said.
Similarly, Chioma Nwafor, said she had substituted onions for spring onions.
“With N200, I buy a lot of spring onions compared to the two small-sized onions you will get for N200.
“With the inflation in the country, you have to look for cheaper substitutes if they are available,” Nwafor FCT Resident said.
Mr Samuel Chidi, a bachelor, said the price of onions had increased and had become unaffordable for some people.
“I love to use onions in my food but with the soaring prices, it is becoming more difficult to afford.
“I bought four small-sized onions for N350 as against seven to eight pieces for that same price before. So for now, I just buy a few pieces and manage it, ” FCT Resident said.
A Caterer, Anu Phillips, said the increasing cost of onions and other food items was affecting her business.
“In this business, we use a lot of onions to cook because it enhances the flavour of the food and we use it for garnishing.
“I cannot imagine cooking without onions except the client specifically asks for it not to be included. So I must buy it at whatever price it is sold for.
“It is difficult to make good profit with the increasing cost of food items. I have to increase my prices, otherwise I will sell at a loss,” she said.
Mohammed Shettima, a grilled meat seller, popularly called ” Mai Suya”, said he had to stop adding onions to his suya because he could not afford to buy it.
”The price of onions has increased so much, I cannot buy it the way I used to again.
“Before I used to put plenty of onions for my customers but now I cannot. I just put plenty of cabbage for them. If they complain I tell them onion is too expensive,” Shettima said.
Grace Oji, a trader who sells onions said the high cost could be attributed to the harvest season and inflation being generally experienced in the country.
“When farm crops are being harvested, the prices tend to be higher. There is usually more demand for that crop than the supply and when demand is higher than supply the price will increase.
“By January, February, farmers would have finished harvesting onions and I believe the price will come down because there will be more supply,” she said.
A transporter, Adisa Bakare, said the increase in the price of onions, just like every other food item, was a result of the removal of fuel subsidies and high foreign exchange rate.
“The removal of fuel subsidy is really affecting the transportation business. Some states are selling fuel for as high as N700 per litre, so before you transport these items from the farm to the markets, you will be spending so much on fuel.
“Also, the price of dollars is affecting the transport business. Many of the vehicle spare parts are imported.
“So when you look at all this, it will affect the price of food items by the time it gets to the final consumers,” he said.
(NAN)