As Eid-el-Kabir draws nearer (most appropriately on Saturday), the Osun State traders have expressed their discomfort in the hike of prices of commodities.
According Mr. Isiaka Adedokun, a trader of livestock, “everything has changed. Animals we bought for #120,000 are #250,000 to #300,000. We have those of #270,000 – #280,000. We have bought all these and rear them before the festival period, but it has escalated now. Many people pre-ordered them. This is our third journey to bring these animals.
The least is #50,000. People are buying them though. May God help us.”
Also, in the words of Mr. Lateef Aderibigbe, another trader of livestock, a trailer load of livestock has jumped from #200,000 – #300,000 it was sold last year to #900,000 – #1,000,000 this year.
“We record good patronage, but there is a hike in the price. Our price range is determined by what we buy. Last year, a trailer load of livestock was #200,000 – #300,000 but it is between #900,000 – #1,000,000 this year. And we can’t say the exact number of livestock we will see therein. We distribute prices on them though.”
Mr. Aderibigbe added that whatever shortcomings they witness, such as injured or death of animals is on the traders and may affect the overall cost of the commodity.
Furthermore, a trader from the Northern part of the country, Muhammad Shaifullahi, he said the price of rams starts from #70,000 to #300,000 while that of he-goats starts from #25,000 to #30,000.
Another one who wished to be knows as “Baba Eleran at the stadium” interjected traders sell as they buy.
In the same development, a tomato seller, Mrs. Nimota Olasupo said traders are mere intermediaries.
In her words, “there is no how we won’t sell ‘festive market’. The price of a basket of tomato was #1,000 before now but it is now #1,200 to #1,500. The people of the village complain about cost of transportation too.”
In addition, another tomato trader, Mrs. Aisha complained about the rise in the price.
“A basket of Tomato used to be #1,200 – #1,600, depending on where you are buying from but it is now #2,000. Bawa is #3,000 flat and we sell a big basket of Rodo at #4, 000.”
