Residents of Abuja have welcomed the recent decline in food prices, crediting federal government policies with providing much-needed relief amid the nation’s economic challenges.
In interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday, several residents and traders expressed appreciation for the price reductions that have made food more accessible to struggling families.
Mrs. Vivian Uche, who sells foodstuffs at Lugbe market, noted significant price drops across multiple commodities. Rice prices have fallen from N76,000 to N55,000 per bag, while a measure of garri now sells for N500-N600, down from N1,000-N1,200. Beans prices have also declined sharply from N3,000 to N600-N800 depending on quality.
“This is truly a relief for us traders and our customers,” Uche said, highlighting similar reductions in yam flour and other staples.
Civil servant Mrs. Ifeoma Iwuji praised government policies that have increased food availability, saying the surplus has driven prices downward. “The cost of food has been a major burden; with prices dropping, we can now afford to buy more,” she explained.
However, some residents remain cautious about the sustainability of these reductions. Mrs. Cynthia Chukwuma, a market shopper, questioned whether the lower prices would last, recalling previous instances where costs fell only to rise again shortly after.
Mechanized farmer Mr. Kayode Iyiola attributed the price drop to multiple factors, including the current harvest season, improved security in farming communities, and government interventions such as subsidized fertilizer distribution and import waivers that have increased cheap imports.
Despite the positive developments, Iyiola noted that many Nigerians continue to face challenges due to low purchasing power and stagnant incomes, which still make affording basic food items difficult for some households.
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