Food prices remain high in Aroso Market despite reopening of borders

The price of beans, yam, garri, vegetable oil, and other food items remain high in Aroso Market (shopping center), Mile 2, Amuwo Odofin. 

A food market survey was conducted by Amuwo News on May 9 based on interviews with traders at Aroso Market.

The prices of food have consistently increased despite the reopening of four borders by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration. 

The borders were reopened in April after President Muhammadu Buhari directed the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS). 

It was noted that a medium-sized tuber of yam is now sold for N2,000, in contrast to its previous price of N1,700. The big-sized tuber of yam is now sold for N3,000.

Also, a big basket of Irish potatoes is currently sold for N40,000 while a big basket of sweet potatoes costs N15,000. 

Distributors in the area have stopped supplying the popular Regal bread. Retailers claim this is due to persistent price increases. They also said it was last sold for N600. 

However, a loaf of bread in the area is currently sold for N500.
 
It was also observed that local rice was hard to find as traders in the market were not selling it. Many claimed it was too expensive and residents didn’t like them.

However, the price of some commodities has taken a nosedive. 

In a conversation with Ebere Cherry, a resident who was at Aroso market, she said, “The price of rice has dropped from what it used to be.

“I bought one paint for two thousand naira, but we used to buy it for N3,000, N2,500, or N2,800.”

She said, “The onions I bought for N500, I got 20 pieces, which is unusual. Usually, you can get 10 or 12 pieces.”

Highlights of the Aroso Market Report 

1 paint of beans is selling for N3,000 while a cup of beans is selling for N700. A bag of beans costs N36,000.

1 paint of good Ijebu garri used to be sold for N1,100, it is currently sold for N1,200.

1 paint of garri used to be sold for N1,000, it is currently sold for N1,100.

25 liters of King’s oil is sold for N34,000. 

Retailers now purchase a box of super pack indomie for 5,500 which used to be N5,200 in April 2022. Residents of Amuwo will be faced with a new price. 

A big basket of onions is currently sold for N15,000.

A big-sized tuber of yam is now sold for N3,000 while a medium-sized tuber of yam is sold for N2,000.

A big basket of tomatoes is sold for N18,000.

10kg of semovita is sold for N5,600.

A loaf of bread is sold for N500 while the family-sized bread is currently sold for N750.

450g size of Milo beverage is sold for N1,400 while 400g is sold for N1,200.

What are the Aroso market traders saying?

Mrs. Omolabake Aluko is a trader at Aroso Market who sells rice, beans, garri, and vegetable oil. 

She claimed the open border has not affected the price of food positively. “Everything is expensive; the border they opened is for no reason, and prices are going up, especially for our local foods like garri, beans, and vegetable oil.” 

She claimed suppliers of garri blamed the hike on transportation and labor. 

Mrs. Aluko said she now buys a bag of beans for N34,000, hence why she sells it for N36,000. 

She told Amuwo News that she buys 25 liters of oil for N34,000 and sells it to residents for N34,500 and sometimes N34,800. 

She bemoaned the sale of measured vegetable oil; she claimed it was adulterated and hazardous to the health. 

According to her, people buy adulterated oil because they can’t afford the latter.

Mrs. Risikat Ajala, who sells rice, beans, and garri, pleaded with the government to come to the aid of Nigerians as the price of food surges.

“We buy a bag of rice for N29,000 or N30,000 while we sell it for N31,000 or N32,000.”

Mrs. Adegoke Adeoti, a trader, blames the Nigerian Customs Service for the hike in the price of rice.

She believes this is the cause of the daily increment.

Concerning vegetable oil, Mrs. Adeoti believes Nigerian producers increase their prices due to the price Nigerians pay for foreign products.