Dealers on food stuffs and cooking spices at Eke Awka Market have called on the federal government to reopen all the borders with neighboring countries that were hitherto closed, to ensure the importation of food stuffs in order to reduce hunger amongst the people.
Some of the traders who spoke to ABS team of business correspondents led by Abuchi Nwozor were of the view that the daily increase in the price of food items was as a result of the border closure by the federal government adding that the nation cannot produce more food items that will be enough for the people.
Sir Charles Anierobi who deals in food stuff including bags of rice and beans at Eke Awka market, emphasized that there is constant change in price of food items within a short period, which according to his Northern suppliers are due to bandit attacks, closure of Niger borders and exchange rates even with neighboring countries currencies all have affected prices.
He revealed that one-hundred-and-twenty-kilogram bag of beans is now sold at one hundred and thirty thousand Naira from around fifty thousand Naira few months ago, a forty-two-kilogram bag of Nigerian rice, which use to go for twenty-five thousand Naira is now forty-two thousand Naira, he called for urgent government intervention by opening the borders to allow for importation.
In the same vein, Mr. Ekene Nwachukwu, who deals in spices, sachet and tin tomatoes, including groundnut oil, noted the serious challenge in the prices of goods, which has affected sales, as five liters of groundnut oil, which normally sold for eight thousand naira is eleven thousand naira just within weeks, he called on those in leadership to help the masses not only being close to them during electioneering.
Pastor Donatus Ndum, who deals in mattresses, pillows and other bedding items, explained that the importation of raw materials and machinery for foam manufacturing, being affected by exchange rate would inadvertently affect the price of mattresses, as six by six by ten size of mattress is now sold for ninety thousand naira from about sixty-five thousand naira, same with other sizes.
Pastor Ndum said the situation calls for concern, as the situation might worsen if not checked, calling on Nigerians to have faith that the situation would improve through the help of God.
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