Date: 2017-05-29

Following the takeoff of the 2017 Ramadan, customers in Ilorin have continued to lament the hike in prices of commodities in various markets in Kwara State.

National Pilot gathered during a market survey at the weekend that prices of some items especially food stuffs have skyrocketed as the Ramadan season set in. Some patrons, who spoke at the Mandate Market to this medium, lamented what they termed 'absurd increase.'

A customer Yusuf Fatimah said, "Market men and women are used to increasing the prices of food stuffs during this period and this is not supposed to be, although we all know the current economic recession but things should be done rightly."

Also, Oluwafikemi Falana said, "This is my first time of coming to the market since Ramadan started but so far the product has increased a bit"

For Peace Samuel, "Tomatoes has increased by 50 per cent. Before now, we used to buy it N50 per layer but the price has changed to N100 at the moment," she bemoaned.

However those who deal in buying and reselling of pepper and tomatoes said a basket of tomatoes which was formerly N10,000 before Ramadan is now being sold for N21,000.

Mrs. Adeyemo Abake said, In fact, I regretted coming to the market today because the price is frustrating. How can the same basket of tomatoes be N 21,000, instead of 10,000 we used to buy it before Ramadan."

Another retailer of the commodity, Mrs. Afusat Abdulrasaq disclosed that she will have to reduce the quantity per layer to resell the tomatoes.

Speaking with National Pilot, the chairperson of Fish Sellers Association at the market, Mrs. Fatimah Jamiu lamented low patronage of customers blaming the economic hardship for the situation, a development which has seen her reduced her prices.

However, a pepper seller at the market, Mallam Mansur Haruna said this is how we sell it, even during the Maolud Nabiyy, I sold a bag for N28,000 and now I sell for about N21,000. We all know there is no money out there but we are left with no choice."

At the Baboko market, some customers stated that the current increase in prices is not unconnected with the current economic recession.