Residents of Zamfara State have cried out over the uncontrollable hike in prices of foodstuffs.
A survey conducted by Media in several major markets in Gusau, the State capital, showed that prices of essential food items have increased by over 100 percent in the last one month.
It was gathered that apart from fuel subsidy removal, banditry has contributed in no small measure, as farmers could no longer access their farmlands, thereby creating food insecurity in the State.
Fielding questions from our correspondent, one Suleiman Abubakar, a foodstuffs dealer in Gusau Central market, said the rise in the prices of key food items was worsened by the recent subsidy removal.
“A bag of maize that sold for about N26,000 between May and June, 2023 has increased to between N55,000 – N57,000 per 100 kg.
“A bag of guinea corn that sold for N21,000 has skyrocketed to N54,000 and a bag of millet has risen from its usual price of N20,000 to 45,000.
“A bag of rice (foreign) that moved from N27,000 in May, 2023, to N40,000, while a kilo of local rice that sold for N1,200 has jumped to N2000,” he said.
Checks by this medium revealed that a kilogram of chicken that was previously sold for N800 now goes for N1300, while a crate of egg that was sold for N1000, now goes for the range of N2000 – N2100.
Alhaji Bala Usman, an economic expert said many citizens now ate what was at their disposal and not what they desired.
“Majority of the people eat what is available and not what they want because of the current inflation,” he said.