Yam sellers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Friday appealed to the federal government to intervene in the arbitrary increase of yam prices as they record low sales. The sellers, who spoke to journalists in separate interviews in Abuja, said that the continuous increase of the stable food affected their livelihood. However, they attributed the product’s constant price increase to insecurity, high transportation costs, and the increasing cost of fertilisers and pesticides. Blessing Timothy, a yam seller in the Masaka market, called on the federal and state governments to regulate the constant price increase of foodstuff to minimise the sufferings of Nigerians. She also appealed to the government at all levels to provide farmers with modern farm inputs while ensuring the timely distribution of fertilisers to boost food production nationwide. Ms Timothy said five tubers of yam now sell for between N15,000 and N30,000, depending on the sizes.
She expressed worry that something must be done urgently to address the cost of yam and other food items and reduce the suffering of Nigerians. Hannah Duke, another yam seller in Mararaba, said the increase in the price of yam had affected her business, adding that she was gradually losing her capital. According to her, most farmers don’t go to farms anymore because of insecurity. Those who managed to plant will pay the gunmen to be able to harvest—the cost of transportation and pesticides. “All these go to the cost of production, and in the end, the farmers need to increase prices to make ends meet,’’ she said. Ms Duke said the yam business was no longer profitable, making it difficult for people to buy yam. “Sometimes we are forced to cut yams into pieces to sell; we sell small slices of yam between N1,000 and N2,000, depending on the size. We are appealing to the government to come to our aid,’’ she said. Josephine Ejeh, another seller in Mararaba, expressed her frustration and said yam was now beyond the reach of the ordinary man.
“We don’t know where to start from. Last year, we sold a bundle of yams (five pieces) for N3,000, and now we are selling between N15,000 and N30,000, depending on the size. People are not patronising us again. I’ve been here since morning, and I have not sold anything. Everyone is complaining, and it is not our fault either. I used to buy 100 pieces of yam for between N50,000 and N60,000 in 2023, but now I buy for between N200,000 and N350,000; it is that expensive now. It used to take me three to four days to sell off 100 pieces of yam, but I’ve had these 100 pieces for two weeks, and I’ve not sold even half of it,’’ she said.
Ms Ejeh called on the government to come to their aid so that yam sellers would not lose their sanity. Similarly, Rose Musa, a yam seller, appealed to the government to intervene and regulate the prices of yam and other food. “The cost of living is also very expensive. We end up reducing the price so that we can sell our goods sometimes, and we don’t make any gains. We are tired and need help. The government should help us resolve this because it is getting out of hand. We cannot even fend for ourselves again,’’ Ms Musa said. Recently, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission said it would take action against members of trade associations that engaged in indiscriminate hikes in the prices of basic food items. (NAN)
