Traders and residents of the Federal Capital Territory have decried the low patronage they are suffering and the high cost of foodstuffs as Nigeria celebrates Easter. They noted that there was no sign of festivity; the price of goods, especially food, was high while patronage remained very low.
Mr. Paul Onoja, a food‑item seller at Karu market, said that patronage during this Easter period had been low, adding that customers could only buy a few things. “We, the traders and our customers, are not happy with the current economic situation of the country, as consumers can barely afford to buy goods because of the hike in prices,” he told the News Agency of Nigeria. “As you can see, the traders are not in a festive mood; there is no hustling or bustling that usually characterises the season.”
A visit to Wuse market showed that prices of food items had skyrocketed by 30 percent compared with the 2022 Easter celebration. Malam Yahaya Useni, a rice dealer, confirmed that the price of rice had risen by that amount, and that the increase affected all varieties of local rice. “Nigerian rice is not cheap either; the price rise has also reduced profit, and we now sell almost at cost price,” he said. Mrs. Roseline Agalé, a civil‑servant who works in the market, described the high cost of foodstuffs as “really discouraging,” adding that the rapid price changes in a matter of days were alarming. “It is not going to reduce; I am tired, we aren’t getting any relief on the prices at all—it’s not funny,” she complained.
Similarly, Mrs. Goodness Ibem, an oil seller at Garki market, said that both vegetable and red oil were much more expensive than during the 2022 Easter celebrations. “Last year the market was busy because customers patronised us well. This year is the worst. I can count how many people have bought my oil today; many ask about the price, and after hearing it they turn away. Some even beg me to sell on credit, promising payment at the end of the month. I don’t know our fate tomorrow because prices keep rising; only God can intervene,” she lamented.
Mr. Ezekiel Momoh, a trader at Nyanya market, also complained of low patronage. “I sell garri, rice, beans, corn, oil and other items, but my shop is dry. There are not many customers, unlike previous Easters. I will not even blame them; the Nigerian economy is too hard and people are no longer finding things easy. May God help us,” he said.
Frozen‑food dealers were not left out. Mr. Godwin Agada, a dealer in the Jikwoyi area, blamed the poor electricity supply for damaging his business. “My big generator, which normally supports us when there is no power, is not functioning well, and we have been experiencing frequent outages. Most of my frozen foods are spoiled. I am frustrated; it’s really tough on all of us. May God help us out of this mess,” he said.
Mr. Pat Obioma, a resident of the FCT and an economist, described the situation as hard and unbearable. “What Nigerians are experiencing now is quite different from what we have seen before. The hardship is very unbearable. The government has to do something about the current unsustainable high cost of items,” he urged, calling on the Federal Government to take practical steps to review its economic growth strategies and plans.
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