17th August, 2018
Traders in Abakaliki metropolis in Ebonyi, have decried low patronage of foodstuff and livestock, as the Eid-el-Kabir celebration draws closer.
In separate interviews on Friday, the traders, who lamented the bad state of the economy also alleged extortion by unscrupulous elements at checkpoints.
Mr. Tijjani Umar, the patron of Goats and Cow sellers Association in Garki Market, told NAN that the price of rams had increased.
He said that “the price of a ram, which was sold for N30,000 as at 2017, has increased to between N40, 000 and N45,000, depending on the size of the animal.
“An additional N10, 000 has been added to the price of each of the animal depending on the size.
“The cows, which sold for N300,000, N350,000 and N150,000 depending on their sizes respectively in 2017 are now sold at the rate of N370,000, N450,000 and N200,000’’.
Umar, however, called for the federal government’s intervention in checking unwholesome activities at checkpoints.
Mrs. Celina Okike, a tomato seller, also said that a basket of tomatoes once sold for between N5,000 and N6,000, had increased to N7,000, N8,000 and N9,000.
She disclosed that one could easily record a loss in the business due to the unimpressive turnout of customers.
“This situation has invariably made us to sell our wares at give-way prices.
“You can imagine where a big basket of tomatoes bought at the rate of N6,000 will be sold with just N500 profit.
She said that the expenses of bringing them from Gboko, in Benue to Abakaliki, were too much to bear.
Also, Mr. Sylvernus Ezeora, a bird seller also blamed the low patronage on the unpleasant economy, which has forced down prices in some instances.
For instance, he said that old layer birds, which sold previously for between N1,700 and N1,800, now sell for between N1,500 and N1,600.
“Also, broiler birds, which sold for between N2,500 and N2,700, now sell between N1,700 and N1,800, yet no patronage,” Ezeora said.