Price Of Onions Soars In Jos

The price of onions has risen in Jos forcing some consumers to prepare their meals without the  vegetable.

A market survey conducted by the News Agency Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in some markets in Jos  metropolis, showed that a small onion bulb which formerly sold for between N10 and N20, now costs  between N50 and N60.

The survey also showed that the price of a big bulb has increased to N100 from N50 just as the price  of a bag of the vegetable has jumped from N3,600 to N7,000.

Mrs. Alice Daniel, a resident of Dadin-Kowa, told NAN that the increase in the price of onions had  compelled her to find alternative spice for her food.

She said she had resorted to using locust beans which, according to her, serve a similar purpose.

Mrs. Esther Dalyop, a consumer at Terminus Market told NAN that onions had become a vegetable for the  rich, adding that she was now compelled to cook her food without the vegetable.

“Sometimes it is difficult to see a bulb of onions; only the leaves and they are very expensive too,”  she said.

Some traders attributed the price hike to scarcity.

Alhaji Yusuf Ibrahim, who sells onions at Katako Market, blamed the scarcity of onions on the 2010  flood disaster that ravaged Sokoto, Kebbi and Jigawa states where onions are produced in large  quantities.

He said that the flood washed away many onion farms.

Ibrahim added that the incessant crises in Jos also contributed to the scarcity of the vegetable.

“Some dealers are afraid of coming to Jos, but with the improvement in the security situation, I  expect that more onions will be brought to the city,” he said.