Why prices of food items soar higher
“WE don’t tell people about prices of tomatoes and pepper again because they may fluctuate at any time. Sometimes, we sell at a particular price in the morning and by noon or evening, the price changes.” This was how Mrs Hannatu Ajiji, an official at the Tomatoes/pepper Market along Bauchi Ring Road, Jos, Plateau State, captured the surge in prices of foodstuffs in the country. The trend is making it difficult for most Nigerians to feed as their purchasing power continues to dwindle. Various reason, ranging from high cost of transportation, increasing inability of farmers to go to farms due to insecurity, foreign exchange, climate change effects, multiple taxation, late release of budget allocation; and rising inflation, among others, have been fingered for the soaring prices of food items. Disturbed by the development, some experts, and leading lawyer, Dr Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, have tasked governments on action to fight hunger and avert looming hunger riots. The House of Representatives...