Price of basic food items have increased in most markets in Lagos as the Muslims fasting period (Ramadan) begins.
The Ramadan will last for 30 days from 10 July, 2013.
Investigations revealed that the price of fruits and other basic food items like beans, yam, pepper, tomatoes, oranges and water melons have increased.
A survey carried out in markets in Mile 12, Oyingbo, Oshodi and Ojuwoye in Mushin where food items are mostly sold, showed that prices of goods have increased by nearly same percentage.
A small-sized tin of beans, which was between N180 and N200 last week, has increased to N300.
A medium-sized basket of tomatoes, which before now went for N6,000 is now N12,000.
The price of a five-litre keg of palm oil has also increased from N1,000 to N1,400, while the 10-litre keg has increased from N2,000 to N2,300.
A foodstuffs seller, Mrs. Rukayat Abiodun, said that she could only buy half bags of rice and beans to resell instead of the two bags she had been buying weekly.
“It is because of Ramadan that food items are expensive and it is usually like that.
“Since most of our foodstuffs come from the North, so it is the price they sell to us that we buy and resell,” Abiodun said.
Mrs. Taibat Borokini, the Secretary, Ojuwoye Market, Mushin, attributed the recent increase in prices of foods to insecurity in the North.
Borokini disclosed that many people had been complaining about the increase in the price of basic food items.
She said that most food items like pepper, tomatoes, cows, goats, onions, ginger were brought from the North, adding that the security situation in the North had made things difficult.
A customer, Mrs. Beatrice Akudo, expressed displeasure at the hike in the price of foods as a result of the forthcoming Ramadan.
“Every time the Ramadan is approaching, food items will begin to increase, while some of the items will become unaffordable.
“Medical practitioners always advise us to take fruits and balanced diet, but when you get to the market you can’t afford it.
“A small size of pineapple that went for N100 is now N200,” Akudo stated.
At the Mushin market, a bag of beans now sells for N26,500 against the old price of N21,000 in June.
A bag of rice of various brands sells between N9,500 and N10,500 compared with the cost price of N8,500 in June.
A big bag of garri costs N9,500 compared with the former price of N8,600.
The small bag of garri now costs N3,700 compared with the former price of N3,300.
At Oshodi market, a 25-litre keg of palm oil is N6,600, up from N5,400 four weeks ago.
A 25-litre keg of vegetable oil costs N8,500 compared with the old price of N7,800, while the five-litre keg of the commodity is now N2,200 against N2,000 in June.
Also a piece of beef which was N650, now sells at N950.
The cost of 5kg. Honeywell semolina is N9,500, compared with the former price of N9,000, while the Golden Penny brand of semovita costs N1,750 up from N1,350 in June.
At Alade market, Ikeja, 500 grammes of Milo and Peak milk cost N750 each, compared with N650 in June.
A carton of imported evaporated Peak milk costs N6,400 up from N5, 300 it was sold in June.
Mr. Olayemi Ogunbiyi, a butcher, said that the security situation in the North had also affected the price of beef.
Price of fruits has also increased in some of the markets in Lagos.
Mrs. Tola Akintade, a fruit seller in Mushin market, said that price of a big basket of orange had increased from N1,000 in June to N1,400.
The medium basket is selling for N1,300 against N900 in June. A small basket of orange in the market costs N1,200 against N800 in June.
According to Akintade, three medium-sized oranges now sell for N150 against N90 a month ago. Mrs. Ayorinde Bakare, another fruit seller at Idumota market, said that 12 big water melons were being sold for N3,300 in contrast to the earlier price of N2,200.
Twelve small water melons now cost N2,600 compared to N1,900 last month.
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