Traders at Ose Okwodu Market in Onitsha, Anambra State, have attributed the rising cost of food items in Nigeria to the ongoing insecurity in the country.
During a visit by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Council (FCCPC) for a survey on the rising food costs, the traders, represented by their market leaders, expressed their concerns. Mr. Onyejekwe Cyprian, the Secretary of the Ose Okwodu Market Traders Union, standing in for the chairman Mr. Ikechukwu Umeanozie, stated that although the market is known as the food basket of Anambra State and beyond, the current prices have become unbearable.
Cyprian pointed to insecurity as the primary cause, noting that farmers are now afraid to go to their fields or transport crops due to the threat of abduction. This has forced traders to travel to rural areas to obtain goods directly, as farmers fear transporting their harvests.
“These days, traders now go to rural places because farmers who manage to harvest crops fear to transport them by road for fear of kidnapping,” he said. He explained that most consumables in Nigeria are distributed from this market, receiving supplies thrice weekly from various states. However, due to the insecurity, the frequency of supplies has diminished, causing traders to increase prices on available goods.
Cyprian suggested that if the government addresses the insecurity issue, farmers would return to their fields, and traders would safely transport their goods.
In addition to insecurity, Cyprian mentioned climate change and high transportation costs as contributing factors to the rising prices.
Mr. Jude Akonam, the South East zonal coordinator of the FCCPC, stated that the purpose of their visit was to understand the impact of rising prices on traders and customers and to relay their findings to the relevant authorities for action.
The FCCPC officials distributed flyers to inform traders and customers about the Commission’s role. Akonam noted that this exercise is part of a nationwide effort conducted by the Commission’s various zonal offices.
