Three days to Christmas, food prices, transport fares hit the roof – Newstrends
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Three days to Christmas, food prices, transport fares hit the roof

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2 months ago

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Three days to Christmas, food prices, transport fares hit the roof

According to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights ,UDHR, Article 25(1), everyone has the right to standard of living adequate for their health and well-being, which includes access to food, clothing, and housing.

Similarly, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights ,ICESCR, Article 11 emphasizes the right to an adequate standard of living, including sufficient food.

Furthermore, the Covenant recognizes the fundamental right to be free from hunger and advocates for measures both individual and international to eliminate hunger.

It is widely acknowledged that inadequate food availability can lead to health issues, as food is as essential to health as air is to breathing.

The situation is exacerbated by the rising costs of healthcare, which are increasingly out of reach for many due to ongoing inflation.

Difficult situations

In Nigeria, harsh economic conditions are forcing households into difficult situations, with many going to bed hungry due to skyrocketing food prices. With Christmas just three days away, our correspondents visited local food markets in Lagos and Abuja to see how citizens are coping with the rising cost of goods and services.

In the locations, buyers and sellers expressed their frustrations over the increasing prices of food items.

At Agric Market in Ikorodu, Mummy Somto, lamented that she had never witnessed such high prices in her lifetime.

She noted that a chicken that cost N15,000 last year now sells for N35,000, with only older layers available for N15,000.

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“What will that do for my family? We have never seen it like this in Nigeria. I hope this hope is the hope,” she said.

At Mile 12 International Market, trucks filled with perishable goods such as tomatoes, peppers, onions, cucumbers, potatoes, carrots, cabbages, and other vegetables were lined up for unloading while eager buyers waited nearby.

When asked about the high prices despite the abundance of food, truck owner Alhaji Shehu, explained that the situation arose from expenses related to diesel, farm security, police and military checkpoints before reaching Lagos.

He mentioned spending between N500,000 and N800,000 per truck, which inevitably raises prices.
“This is our business, and we are not pleased with the high costs either. If I sell my goods, I still need to buy what I don’t sell. It’s suffocating us. I also commend the buyers,” Shehu added.

Bags of rice

Mrs. Bukky Osagie, a rice vendor at Mike 12, shared her concerns about escalating prices: “Last December, a bag of rice was between N65,000 and N70,000. Today, it’s from N95,000 depending on the brand. Traders are exhausted. People are buying half bags because they can’t afford full ones. They also need to buy additional items. How do people survive this trend? This has to stop if the government truly cares for its citizens.”

At Daleko Market, Mrs. Hannah, was seen pricing vegetable oil when she declared, “Whether the devil likes it or not, we will celebrate with our families and share love during this season. We will just have to adjust our spending according to our means.”

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As of the time of filing this report, a 25-liter container of vegetable oil was selling for between N86,000 and N95,000 depending on the brand.

Garri was priced at N56,000, while Ijebu Gaari was N58,000.

A carton of satchel tomatoes ranged from N8,800 to N9,200 while a pack of spaghetti cost N23,000.
70 grams of noodles were priced between N9,800 and N10,500. A roll of curry or thyme sold for N550 each, while small bulbs of onion reached as high as N200, making them almost unaffordable for many.

Christmas cheer

In Abuja, soaring food prices and steep transportation costs are casting a shadow over Christmas celebrations for many families.

The cost of essential holiday items, such as poultry, has surged, with chickens priced between ¦ 15,000 and ¦ 25,000, and turkeys reaching up to ¦ 130,000 in some markets.

Sunday Vanguard learned that rising feed prices, transportation costs, and supply chain disruptions are driving these increases.

Additionally, a 50-kg bag of rice now costs between ¦ 94,000 and ¦ 125,000, a significant leap from previous months.

Transportation fares have also skyrocketed, with transport fare from Abuja to major cities such as Lagos, Port Harcourt, and Enugu increasing from 15 percent to 35 percent in the past month.

For instance, a trip from Abuja to Lagos by road, which previously cost ¦ 28,000–¦ 35,000, now ranges between ¦ 46,500 and ¦ 60,000.

 

Three days to Christmas, food prices, transport fares hit the roof

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Just in: Senate Committee wants Senator Natasha suspended for six months, apologise to Akpabio

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12 hours ago

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March 6, 2025

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Just in: Senate Committee wants Senator Natasha suspended for six months, apologise to Akpabio

The Senate Committee on Ethics has recommended that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan be suspended for six months over controversy around her sexual harassment allegation against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

The committee on Thursday also advised that the Kogi Central senator should apologise to the Senate for disrespecting the institution.

It recommended the withdrawal of her salary and security details during the suspension period.

Earlier, Akpoti-Uduaghan had through her constituents led by Zubairu Yakubu submitted another sexual harassment petition against Akpabio during plenary.

Akpabio directed her to formally lay the petition before the Senate at 12:38pm.

The petition was then referred to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions, chaired by Senator Neda Imasuen (LP, Edo South), with a mandate to report back within four weeks.

This move follows a similar petition Akpoti-Uduaghan submitted the previous day, which sparked controversy.

Senate Chief Whip Mohammed Monguno (APC, Borno North) had raised a point of order, citing Senate Standing Order 40, arguing that the matter was sub judice due to an ongoing court case involving Akpoti-Uduaghan and Ekaette Akpabio, the Senate President’s wife.

He also contended that the petition should not be considered since Akpoti-Uduaghan had personally signed it.

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Steel factory explosion injures seven in Ogun

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13 hours ago

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March 6, 2025

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Steel factory explosion injures seven in Ogun

The Ogun State Police Command has begun an investigation into an explosion at Quantum Steel, located along the Sagamu-Ikorodu Road in Ogijo, which left seven workers, including three expatriates, severely injured.

The explosion, which occurred on Wednesday, was reported at the Ogijo Police Division by a staff member of the company, Joseph Adewale.

Those injured include four Nigerians—Daniel Bala, 28; Mutiu Olajide, 39; Godwin Solomon, 27; and Maduabuchi Onwe, 27—as well as three expatriates, Ajun Kumar, 37; Chandan Kumar, 50; and Rakash Kumar, 30.
Omolola Odutola, the state police public relations officer, confirmed the incident in a statement on Thursday, saying the explosion was caused by machinery failure.

The statement read, “According to the report, on March 2, 2025, at about 6:30 pm, a blast from one of the factory’s machines resulted in severe injuries to seven individuals, including both Nigerian and expatriate workers.

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“All the injured victims were rushed to Rolayo Hospital in Ikorodu, Lagos, where they are currently receiving treatment and responding well.”

Odutola stated that investigators went to the location, made an initial examination, and documented evidence, including photographs. She also stated that a thorough investigation is ongoing to ascertain the cause of the explosion and ensure compliance with industrial safety standards.

The police department also asked businesses and sectors to emphasize worker safety to avoid similar incidents.

 

Steel factory explosion injures seven in Ogun

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Soldiers invade Ikeja Electric offices in Lagos, attack workers 

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16 hours ago

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March 6, 2025

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Soldiers invade Ikeja Electric offices in Lagos, attack workers 

 

Some military personnel on Thursday morning stormed the head office of an electricity distribution company, Ikeja Electric and other offices in Lagos and assaulted its workers.

Newstrends learnt the personnel in uniform forced their way into the Ikeja Electric office on Ago Palace Way, Okota, Isolo, Lagos and Alausa, Ikeja.

Videos were shared online showing the military personnel wielding arms, destroying offices, locking up some workers, which crippled operations in the company.

Some seven staff members were seen kneeling while the military personnel assaulted others.

A similar occurrence reportedly took place at the Ikeja Electric head office in Ikeja.

The assault on Thursday instilled fear among the company workers including senior staff members, with many hiding for safety.

Some said they had decided to stay away as those who resumed early for work on Thursday could not be reached on the phones.

There are fears that many of them were attacked, wounded and hospitalised.

There were reports earlier that Ikeja Electric disconnected the power supply to the Nigerian Air Force logistics base in Ikeja.

There has been growing tension between Ikeja Electric and the Sam Ethnan Air Force Base, Ikeja, over the disconnection of power supply, which many fear may escalate.

The Sam Ethnan Air Force Base, Ikeja, has been without power for two weeks following its disconnection by Ikeja Electric over an unpaid debt running into millions of naira.

An agreement was reportedly struck for the Nigerian Air Force to pay a monthly sum of N60 million to ensure a daily electricity supply of 10 to 12 hours to the base.

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