In preparation for the Ed-el-Fitr celebration, prices of some food items have slightly increased in markets across the FCT Area councils.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that in some markets in the Area councils on Monday some food items such as tomatoes, onions, rice, pepper and salad ingredients went up.
A visit by NAN to Gwagwalada and Kuje markets showed that a bag of rice sold for N16,800 as against N15,500 in May.
The visit also showed that a bucket of tomatoes was sold for N1,200 as against the initial price of N600.
According to Alhaji Suleman Adamu, a food stuff dealer in Gwagwalada market, the increase in the price in the market now was as a result of the Sallah celebration.
He said that a 25 liters of Kings brand of groundnut oil which sold for N11,500 now goes for N12,200 while a bag of pepper which sold for N4,000 now goes for N6,000.
However, Malam Sule Mohammed an onions seller said that a waste bin basket of onions now sells for N700 as against its previous value of N500.
He said that the high cost of transportation also contributed to the increase in the prices, adding that he hope the prices would reduce after the Sallah celebration.
Mrs Helen Idoko, a yam seller said that a set of five tubers of yams was sold between N3,000 and N2,500 as against N2,000 and N1,800.
Malam Musa Shuaibu, a trader at the popular forest market in Kuje, also said that the high increase in prices of livestock was as a result of the Sallah celebration.
He said that the patronage was a bit higher than it was in the past, adding that the payment in workers’ salary also contributed to increase in sales.
The prices of meat, fresh fish, stock fish, chicken and other food items varies from one market to another and the prices of salad ingredients such as carrots, cabbage, green peas, green beans and green pepper have also increased.
