A recent market survey conducted in Mararaba, an Abuja satellite town in Nasarawa State, has revealed staggering price hikes in essential commodities such as Indomie noodles, groundnut oil, and Irish potatoes.
The cost of Indomie Super pack, a popular brand of noodles, has soared from N8,500 earlier in the year to an alarming N18,000, marking a drastic increase of over 100 percent.
Similarly, the smaller pack of Indomie, once priced at N5,000, is now being sold for N11,000.
Furthermore, the price of a five-liter container of groundnut oil has surged from N7,000 to N11,000, adding to the financial burden faced by consumers.
In Jos, a major hub for Irish potatoes, the cost of a bag of these tubers has escalated from N25,000 to N40,000, reflecting the widespread inflationary pressures affecting food markets.
Recent market surveys conducted in February by Gazette have consistently highlighted significant price hikes in food items since the assumption of office by Mr. Tinubu last year.
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The surge in prices has triggered protests in various states, including Niger, Osun, Ibadan, and Lagos, with citizens calling on the government to address their plight.
In response to mounting public outcry, Mr. Tinubu directed the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to release approximately 42,000 metric tonnes of grains, including maize, millet, and garri.
Additionally, he instructed security agencies, including the National Security Adviser, the State Security Service, and the Nigerian police, to crackdown on food hoarders.
Efforts by the Nigeria Customs Service to distribute confiscated food items to alleviate hunger were marred by tragedy when a stampede during rice distribution resulted in the deaths of six individuals in Lagos, leading to the suspension of the initiative.
Despite these measures, incidents of food item looting have been reported, with a government-owned warehouse in Abuja raided by residents and food items looted.
Similarly, attacks on trucks carrying food supplies have occurred in Suleja, Niger State, and Zaria, Kaduna State, underscoring the desperation and frustration among the populace.
Source: Peoples Gazette
