‘We now feed once daily’ – Families cry out over high cost of living

Prices of commodities, including foodstuffs, have been majorly affected by the fluctuation of the exchange rate and inflation.

This was affirmed by the United Nations World Food Programme, WFP, wherein, it announced its reviewing its local food procurement.

A statement by the UN’s Country Director and Representative in Nigeria, David Stevenson on Tuesday said: “Last week, a WFP monitoring mission in Borno, Yobe, and Kano states confirmed unprecedented inflation rates, and high food price rises caused by market speculations.

“This poses significant challenges for Nigerians, particularly those who are displaced, are unable to farm, and are dependent on markets to access food.”

A recent survey indicated that a popular food eaten in most Nigerian homes, noodles, witnessed a surge in price ranging from N17,500 to N18,000 per carton (120g super pack) from N11,140 it sold earlier in February this year.

The survey carried out by newsmen on Saturday in Wuse, Dutse and Utako markets showed that prices of noodles increased by 38.1 per cent in two weeks.

The new price represents a N12,500 (67 per cent) increment compared to the N6,000 per carton it was sold in February last year.

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Also, the price of a bag of sachet water popularly called “pure water” increased from N250 to about N500 and N700.

Commenting on the situation, a school teacher based in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, who gave her name as Tolu, lamented the current hardship.

She told DAILY POST that: “The economic hardship is telling on everyone; we can barely eat; when we eat once daily, we thank God for that.”

She also lamented that the high cost of living was taking a toll on the academic sector as schools were planning to hike their fees.

“Most schools have already increased their fees at the beginning of the session, so I don’t know if there will still be a further increment,” she added.

In a similar vein, an online beauty vendor, Deborah, lamented that it was affecting her business and lifestyle.

“The economy has been going from bad to worse in the recent weeks and the only way my family and I have been managing is by cutting down on our spending, thereby, getting only items that are necessary.

“As for feeding, we have been eating only twice a day, which is in the morning and then at night,” Deborah told DAILY POST.

An Abuja-based barber, Anas also lamented that Nigerians were struggling to feed.

He told DAILY POST: “The hardship now is tough and families are finding it difficult to feed, we are just managing.

“At this point, some men have abandoned their wives due to the prevailing economic situation. It appears the government has no solution to the problem.”

Also, while stressing that the economic hardship was taking a toll on his family, an Okada rider, who identified himself as Musa, said it had become unbearable.

“Everything is expensive in the market now; I’m just managing to feed my family once daily from the little I make from my work.

“Tinubu’s administration is worse than Buhari’s regime.

“Even garri, which used to be a common food, has never been this expensive,” he told our correspondent.