Onitsha, the commercial nerve-centre of the South-east geo-political zone is wearing a strange look. Today, the place that has always been full of business life has turned lukewarm since the uprising that greeted the presidential election result. First, prior to the election, many members of the Hausa/Muslim community in the state left.
Investigations by Sunday Trust revealed that many of them returned home to participate in the election having travelled home during the voter registration exercise to secure their franchise.
Hausa hide
But after the election of April 16, which put President Goodluck Jonathan in the lead and the attendant riot in the northern states of Katsina, Kano, Kaduna, Bauchi, Gombe and Borno the Hausa/Muslim community went into hiding for fear of reprisal attack.
Prices of goods skyrocket
Though there have been no reports of reprisal attacks, the Hausa still do not come out for their business activities. As a result, some of the goods conveyed from the north to the east which are exclusively sold by the Hausa like cows, goats, pepper, potatoes and onions have got out of the reach for many.
For instance, the price of a cow which sold for N100,000 went up to N150,000 last week. The measure of intestines of a cow which was sold for N6,000 now sells for N11,000. A goat which sold for N15,000 now sells for N20,000.
A carton of onions which was N15,000 now goes for N30,000. A basket of pepper sold for N4,500 now sells for N5,000. Moreover, a bag of onions which sold for N19,000 now sells for N15,000. Our market survey also showed that a basket of tomatoes which was N9,000 rose to N11,000.
Buyers lament
One Emeka Nwabueze who spoke to Sunday Trust said that since the elections and the violence that trailed them, the price of goods had gone up as the Hausa traders are afraid to come to the open market to sell. He said they have to go looking for the Hausa traders to buy their goods with the attendant increase in transport.
Same story in Enugu
Prices of food items, including livestock, have risen in some markets in Enugu. The situation is blamed on the recent political unrest in some parts of the north of the country as being the direct cause of the high cost of the food items. The goods affected include tomatoes, onions, and livestock among others.
Prices rise by 10-20 percent
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that livestock increased by between 10 and 20 percent. At the Artisan Market, the price of a medium cow increased from N55,000 to N80,000 while the big ones now sells for between N100,000 and N160,000.
The prices were also the same at the Garki Market, Awkunanaw, where limited supplies of cows were available and many dealers unable to meet the rising demand.
Some finger Easter
Mr Abdul Isa, a ram dealer, said the prices were high because of demands occasioned by the Easter celebrations. Mr Aminu Mohammed, a cow dealer, attributed the high cost to the crisis in the northern parts of the country. “People are afraid of travelling to the north because of recent riots there, so supplies of cows are not coming down to Enugu,’’ Mohammed said.
Mr Jude Oba, a dealer in live chicken, said the prices were high because many families demanded chickens during the season. “There is high demand of chicken and we cannot meet the demand. That is why the prices are high,’’ Oba said. He said that chickens were sold between N1,500 and N3,000 depending on the size as against N1,000 and N1,500 in the past.
Mrs Jane Okolie said she bought a sizeable broiler at N2,300. “Before now, I used to buy a broiler at between N1,500 and N1,800 depending on the size. “I believe that the cause of increase is the Easter celebrations,” Okolie said.
It is reported that a goat now sells for between N12,000 and N30,000 depending on the size as against between N8,000 and N28,000 in the past. Prices of tomatoes and onions had risen in the state capital. A basket of tomatoes rose from between N4,000 and N4,500 to N7,500 while a small measure of onions now sells for N50.
Buyers expressed dismay at the increase in prices of the food items. Mrs Ngozi Okoroji, a civil servant, said Nigerians were fond of taking advantage of any big celebrations to increase prices of goods
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Post-election violence, Easter push goods out of reach in the east