BY DINMA BIGWA
Following a market survey carried out by The Pointer in the largest markets in Asaba over the weekend, it was observed that the hardship faced by many families remained unabated, with a calculation of changes in prices by our in-house analysis showing over a 200 per cent hike within a space of one week.
Checks revealed that besides the largest market in the state capital, the Ogbeogonogo modern Market, a gloomy outlook pervaded Midwifery market, Okpanam, Oko and Abraka markets and others around occasioned by low sales and unenthusiastic shoppers.
An exhaustive inquiry covered a sundry category of consumer and general goods. In the vegetables sub-category, onion balls were sold at between N500 and N300 depending on their sizes. According to an onion dealer, Mallam Dawole, this was because a bag of onion now sells for between N100, 000 and N105, 000 as against the old price of between N70, 000 and N55, 000. A trader in a variety of vegetables said gone are the days when vegetables were seen as being cheap during the rainy season.
“It’s now a different situation. Despite being a seasonal item, vegetables such as ugu (spinach) are as expensive in-season as they used to be when out of season. “A bundle of ugu leaves even now that we are in the height of the rainy season sells forN6, 000 at the ‘bush markets’ as against the old price of N2,500”, she said, adding that ugu is now ‘tied’ at N200 and no longer N50 it was sold for in many years. Waterleaf or kpolorgi in local parlance sold for N200 per bunch, but three bunches could be allowed for N500 with a good bargain.
Tomatoes, already sold at cut-throat prices, along with its compliment, pepper as well as okra remained a no-go area for numerous buyers. A medium-sized bowl of tomatoes sold for N45, 000, of which a similar quantity went for N15, 000 in the recent past.
A bucket of tomatoes was sold at between N8,000 and N10,000 depending on the sizes of the perishables, while about 10 tomatoes fruits went for N1,000. A bucket of pepper was sold for between N7,000 and N8, 000; half bucket was between N3, 500 and N4, 000, while the least amount of pepper sold was N500.
Highly consumed vegetables, okra had a basket going for N40, 000 and N20, 000 for the big and small bags respectively, an over 150 per cent increase, resulting in a bucket going for N2, 000 and the smallest retail quantity usually displayed on the tables selling for N200.A complimentary product of maize, the African pear or ube was sold for N80, 000 a bag. For no less than N500, one could get about eight of the items unlike in the past when that amount could buy several number of it. Cucumber was N25, 000per bag, N1,500 for a kilo and N300 per fruit.
In the meat category, cow skin(enjoyed as ponmo) went for N39,500 as sized by the dealers. A retail piece of the delicacy sold for N300 and a bigger piece for N500 as against going for as low as N50 and N100 respectively. A bag of snail was N250, 000, while just five went for as high as N5, 000.
A crate of egg was N4,700 as against N2, 400-2500, while it was between N250 and N300 per egg. A bag of garden egg was N25,500; a paint bucket, N4, 000 and a few pieces went for N200-N500.
In the grains category, a bag of rice was N80,000 and a bucket for N7000-N9,000. A bag of beans was N270,000 and a paint bucket,N8-N10,000. A bag of garri was N51,000, a paint bucket, N3, 200, half a bucket, N1, 600 and a cup (of garri) at N200. For packaged cereals, a 10kg bag of semolina was N14,000.
As for oils, 20 liters of local groundnut oil was N35,000, while other oil products recorded similar percentage increment. For processed goods, tin tomato hovered around N1, 000- N1, 600, but a proliferation of the product was observed, with some going for around N500-N700. A bag of egusi or melon was N280,000, paint bucket, N7,500, half a bucket, N3,300, while a cup sold for N400. A basket of palm fruit (banga) was N18,000, half paint, N1, 500 and a measure of‘small custard’was N800.
A carton of noodles (super pack by Indomie) was N12, 500, carton of indomitable by same maker was N7,500, while minimie, of the same brand maker, was N5, 800. A carton of spaghetti was N18,000, containing 20 packs. 30 liters of palm oil was N33,000, while a bottle was sold for N1, 000. Cow meat or beef was N250,000 as sold to wholesale buyers like restaurants. For homes, five pieces was cut at N1, 000. 10kg of periwinkle was N70, 000, stock fish was N210,000. Retail amounts were sold at N800-N3,500.
Crayfish was N250,000 per bag, N6,000 for a paint bucket; walnut was half a ‘painter’ at N26,000, a single seed at N100, but six seeds went for 500, depending on the bargain. Groundnut-N80,000-N90,000, a small ‘tin tomatoes cup’ was N200, a milk cup, N400 and average tomato tin was N800.
Carton of red apple was N54,000, making a single red fruit to sell at N500, while a carton of green apple was N51,000 and N300 per fruit. As for tubers, which used to be a family staple, a tuber of yam went for between N2, 500 and N8, 000, hence taking it out of the reach of many consumers.
