Effects of the border closure by the federal government is biting hard on Nigerians as prices of food items have continued to be soar, especially rice, chicken, turkey and other farm produce.
According to market survey by Blueprint, a slate of full chicken which was sold for N9, 200 is now sold for N13, 000, while the same quantity of chicken lap is now sold for N12, 500 compared to its initial price of N8, 500.
A visit to major markets also show that the price of foreign-made rice has risen significantly, as it now sells for an average of N27, 750. This increase indicates a staggering 92.04 per cent change within a space of two months.
Locally-produced 50kg bag of rice has yet again witnessed an increase in price as it now sells for an average of N21, 750 from the N19, 750 of two weeks ago. This change indicates a 10.1 per cent increase.
A 50kg bag of Royal Stallion rice and Caprice increased by 5.7 per cent from an initial average of N26, 250 to a current average of N27, 750.
A big tuber of yam now sells for an average of N850, compared to an initial average of N825, indicating a 3 per cent increase, while a medium-sized tuber of yam increased by 2 per cent from an average of N613 to N625.
A big basket of round tomatoes increased by 12.5 per cent from an initial average of N8, 000 to N9, 000 just as small basket sells for N5, 500, while the price of one kilo of Horse Mackerel fish (Kote) increased by 7.3 per cent as it now sells for an average of N475 compared to an initial average of N443. Also, Titus fish now sells for an average of N463 from an initial N438.
The price of a pack of Golden Penny pasta has increased significantly by 25.2 per cent from an initial N3,375 to N4,225 while a piece of the commodity now sells for N220.
A 50kg bag of Dangote, Honeywell and Mama Gold flour increased within two weeks to sell at a uniform average of N11, 275. Big baskets of Irish potatoes and sweet potatoes maintain their initial prices, as they sell for N20, 000 and N5, 000 respectively.
The prices of locally-packaged palm oil and vegetable oil remain unchanged, as a 25-litre gallon of palm oil costs an average of N9, 500, while vegetable oil of the same size costs an average of N10, 500.
The prices of milk and cocoa beverages of different sizes still cost the same as no change was recorded in the past two weeks.
