Pepper Shortage Hits Ilorin Markets Ahead of Eid-el-Kabir
According to a news report from the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), pepper, a staple spice in many Nigerian dishes, has suddenly become scarce in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, as Eid-el-Kabir approaches.
A market survey conducted on Thursday at the Mandate Market in Ilorin West Local Government Area, where pepper is usually sold in large quantities, revealed that the spice has become increasingly expensive in recent weeks.
The scarcity has also affected tomatoes, with both commodities becoming hard to find. Some pepper sellers have attributed the shortage to flooding and pest attacks in the North, where pepper is grown in large quantities.
Mallam Jamilu Isa, a vendor, explained that they were expecting deliveries of pepper and onions, but were informed that there were no goods available for loading. He lamented that the flooding had washed away many crops, and those that were not washed away were damaged by pests.
The price hike has been significant. A small container of tomatoes that previously sold for N150 now sells for N2,000. Similarly, a wastebin basket that used to cost between N1,500 and N2,000 now sells for N15,000, and a large basket that was priced at N10,000 now costs N175,000 and above.
Also, a basket of Scotch Bonnets popularly called “rodo” sold for N1,500 before, now goes for N12,000.
Similarly, a bag of onions now goes for N75,000 as against N50,000 and below that it was sold.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, food prices in Nigeria increased 40.53 per cent in April of 2024 over the same month in the previous year and food inflation reached an all-time high of 40.53 per cent in April of 2024.
In a visit to ram dealers, they lamented low sales as buyers complained of the high prices of rams.
A ram seller, Mr Azeez Abdullahi, said the ram that went for N50,000 a few years back is sold for between N170,000 and N200,000 and above this year.
He identified the high cost of feeds and transportation as responsible for the hike in the price of the ram.
A prospective customer, Mr Yahaya Usman said with the exorbitant price, some of his friends are planning to contribute money to buy a cow and share which is also acceptable in Islam as an alternative to rams. (NAN)
Cloud Tag: What's trending
Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.
Folorunsho Erubu Taofik Abdulkareem Babaita Ike Ekweremadu Turaki Dogara Olusola Saraki Tunji Moronfoye Offa Grammer School V.O. Abioye Kayode Oyin-Zubair Peter Obi Olomu Of Omu-Aran Rasheed Jimoh Ilorin South Constituency Aishatu Ahmed Gobir Sobi Hill Mutawalle Abdulquowiyu Olododo Road Transport Employers Association Of Nigeria Ahmed Bayero Yomi Adeboye Umar Yakubu Jaja Shaaba Lafiagi Kola Bukoye Taofik Mustapha Yahaya Muhammad Abubakar Baba Sulaiman Alfa Belgore Abubakar Baba Crystal Corner Shops Yusuf Abdulkadir Okasanmi Ajayi Aliyu Muhammad Saifudeen Olatunde Michaels Oke-Odo All Peoples Party AbdulGafar Tosho Elekoyangan Kwara State Infrastructure Development Fund Abdulsalam A. Yusuf JMK Construction Company Limited Sebastine Obasi Al-Hikmah University Hikmah AbdulKareem Shehu Salau Mubarak Oladosu Transition Implementation Committee Sobi FM Kayode Ogunlowo Abdul-Rahoof Bello Funmilayo Zubair Omu-aran Ileloke Societe Generale Bank Of Nigeria Trade Lenda SME Fair Monsurat Omotosho Dasuki Belgore Abiodun Abdulkareem Kwara Clara Nwachukwu Umar Saro Jimoh Lambe Abdulkareem Unilorin Tosho Yaqub Idiagbon Ilorin Curfew Yakub Ali-Agan Convocation Ceremonies NNPP Gbenga Awoyale Haliru Yahaya Kayode Yusuf Rex Olawoye Ekweremadu Sulyman Buhari Alimi Curfew

