Inflation: Meat wholesalers declare a hike in prices that takes effect today.

The Oyo State chapter of the National Butchers Association has announced a hike in meat prices, which will take effect today.

According to the Nigerian Tribune, the association ascribed this to the high cost of transportation as well as other rising operating expenses.

At a prayer session at the Agodi Gate prayer ground in Ibadan, Mr. Wahab Olayiwola, the state chairman of the association, disclosed this.

He pointed out that the latest increase in prices was caused by the butchers’ inability to withstand inflation and the rise in costs of operating their businesses.

He asked the people of the state to be patient with the changes, claiming they were forced to make the announcement.

But Olayiwola asserted that government action would prevent their company from failing and allow them to

live meaningful lives.

To this end, he sought the government to give the butchers soft loans and provide the enabling environment for them to sell at cheaper prices.

Speaking in the same vein, the Southwest Coordinator of the butchers, Mr Biliaminu Elesinmeta said the association believed in prayers hence its resort to praying for God’s intervention in the present state of the nation, which they described as tough.

Elesinmeta said: “We want to urge the government to assist us and see how the price of goods and services can come down. It is not our fault that we are increasing the price of meat. We sell what we buy.

“We need the assistance of government, Nigerians don’t rear cows; they supply us. These cows are from neighbouring countries like Chad, Niger, and Mali and we buy using CFA. Also, the cost of transporting these cows is very costly.”

Other members who spoke at the event lamented that they were running on loss, urging government at all levels to intervene to make their business worthwhile.