Inhabitants of Kano metropolis have expressed their concern over the soaring prices of live chicken as they gear up for the Christmas and New Year festivities.
Christians worldwide observe Christmas on December 25 to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
Several residents, who shared their thoughts in individual interviews with reporters on Friday in Kano, mentioned that they would mark the occasion within their means.
The cost of chicken has escalated due to a surge in demand in the run-up to the holiday season.
The price of chicken varies between N5,000 and N10,000, depending on its size and weight.
A kilogram of well-raised chicken is priced at N2,700, up from N2,600, while a live turkey is sold for between N30,000 and N40,000.
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Agnes Bitrus, a local resident, recounted her unsuccessful attempt to purchase a chicken for N2,000 at the Sabon-Gari Market.
“My husband and I decided to buy a small chicken to celebrate Christmas, but to my utter surprise, there was none available for N2,000.
“So, we have now chosen to celebrate with beef for the sake of our children,” she said.
Echoing her sentiments, another resident, Abel Jacob, shared that the festive season brings a lot of joy and anticipation from family members, marked by shopping and gift-giving to friends and those less fortunate.
Jacob stated that he would celebrate Christmas within his budget, adding that “after all, there’s no need to overextend myself.
“Initially, I had planned to buy six chickens, but now I’ve reduced it to three due to the steep prices,” he said.
Supporting Jacob’s viewpoint, Adeleke Moses noted that chicken and other poultry products are out of reach for the average person.
Mr. Moses mentioned that he would keep the celebrations low-key due to the tough economic conditions.
“I have decided to keep the celebrations modest this year because, after the Christmas/New Year celebration, comes the payment of school fees,” he said.
Sarah Daniel, an employee, also lamented the high cost of food items, stating that many families would not be able to celebrate the season in a joyous mood.
“Food prices are currently high, and salaries have remained the same,” she said, calling for effective measures to curb inflation in the country. (NAN)