Buhari under fire over high cost of living

As Christian faithfuls gear up for this year’s Christmas celebrations. Nigerians have blamed the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari over the high cost of living in the country.

Nigerians speaking to the Guardian accused the government of being insensitive to the plight of the masses and lamented the administration’s inability to tame the rising inflation amongst a plethora of issues.

The lingering scarcity of petrol and security of life and property across the country has marred plans for the Yuletide season.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) report released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) barely two weeks ago showed that the prices of goods and services surged to 21.47 per cent in November 2022, up from 21.09 per cent in the previous month.

The NBS however attributed the increase in the monthly inflation rate to the sharp increase in demand usually experienced during Christmas season.

It was the 10th consecutive increase in inflation rate this year, development experts say has eroded the economic power of an average Nigerian.

Lamenting the high cost of items, she added: “I have just gone to shop for items for my home. In the past, I was able to buy items like a bag of rice, live chicken and more for my parents, but this time around, I will just cook from what I have and share with them. It is sad how things have become, but then, we give glory to God that we have life.”

In Plateau State, a resident of Jos North, Mr. Magnus Jacob, said Nigerians were witnessing the worst era of high cost of goods and services.

According to Jacob, who is a civil servant and public affairs analyst, fuel scarcity and insecurity have marred this year’s Christmas.

According to Jacob, many families would have wanted to have a grand Christmas celebration but the reverse has become the case.

A member of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Mallam Tasiu Garba also said that not many people would travel in this Christmas season.

A Muslim faithful, Abeny Mohammed (SAN), who observed that Christmas celebrations would always rub off on people of other creeds, urged the government to take immediate steps to mitigate the effects of the current economic crisis on the masses.

His words: “Any economic situation where prices of goods are not within the reach of the middle class people is a dangerous one. It means that more than half of the population is poor. The consequences are better imagined than experienced. Something must be done by relevant body to reduce or mitigate the effects.”

For Mr. Emmanuel Ayeoribe, a former Kwara State secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), “the only thing that has been stable in the face of inflation in Nigeria is the workers’ salary.”

“No salary increments in public services, yet the civil servant must buy goods twice the former prices. The pump price of PMS is no longer under any regulation. A litre is sold for between N180 and N300 in Ilorin metropolis. Tell me, the population of celebrants who will be able to afford the transportation fares to their towns and villages at the peak of the Yuletide.”

The Guardian observed that Oja Oba, Oja Ipata, Kulende and Ago markets in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, were not in their usual buzzy nature at this time of the year. This was even as traders complained of very low patronage, which they attributed to high cost of commodities.

In Imo State where residents are contending with the problem of insecurity aside from the general economic downturn, many residents said they would seek refuge at the headquarters of the Christ Freedom Ministries International (CFM), presided over by Prophet Eziagha A. Gabriel, known as Prophet Seer 1, on the Christmas day.

The prophet had on Sunday December 18, during a programme at the Government Technical College (GTC), Owerri, urged all troubled residents of Owerri, the state capital, and surrounding cities, to come to his ministry’s headquarters in Umuogidi, Umuagwuruihe, Amauzari, Isiala Mbano, Local Council and have peace of mind on Christmas day.

Some residents expressed fear over increasing attacks by gunmen in Okigwe, Orlu and some parts of Owerri, stressing that there was need for them to go and seek God’s intervention through the prophet.

They also lamented biting petrol scarcity in the state, noting that the pump price has risen from N160 to N270 per litre. Consequently, transport fare for intra city shuttles has risen from N50 to N200. Also, commuters travelling from Owerri to Aba, who were paying about N1000 before, now pay N2, 000.

At Relief, Ekeukwu Owerri and other markets in Owerri, a live goat that cost N20, 000 in the past now sells for about N50, 000 while the cost of chicken has skyrocketed to N8,000 from N5,000. A bag of rice now costs N50, 000 instead of N37, 000; a cup of beans now costs N250 instead N150 while a cup of egusi that sold at N200 a few months ago now sells at N600.

When asked why she jerked up the prices of her goods, a petty trader, Onyinyechi Gift, said: “That’s the way I bought. I will not sell at a loss. Everything is expensive now. Our customers will have to bear with us.”

As at the time of filing this report, The Guardian observed that there was no usual rush by the travellers out of Owerri to their ancestral homes for the festive season.

In Anambra State, residents blamed the government for the high cost of basic items they need to have a blissful Christmas.

At the motor parks in Onitsha and Awka, it was observed that transport fares to different routes had gone up. Before now, Awka to Onitsha cost N400, but it now costs N600; Awka to Enugu was N600 but now N1, 000.

Despite the hike in transport fares, some commuters told The Guardian they were happy to be traveling to see their friends and family, and also participate in some functions.

Ferdinand Opurah, who was travelling to Umuahia, Abia State, said he was excited because he had not visited his homeland in the last three years.

“We all, my parents, brothers, sisters and other relatives will celebrate the Christmas as well as the New Year together,” he enthused.

Also, it was observed that the prices of goods and wares in the market have gone up. It was also observed that the volume of trade reduced substantially compared to what it used to be at this time in the past.

Madam Nkemdilim, a trader in Awka, said customers were coming to buy food items in smaller quantities because the prices have increased. She lamented that the development has affected her daily and weekly sales and profit.

“I sell a paint of crayfish at N5, 000; a paint of beans (Potaskom) at N2, 300; iron beans N2, 300 and brown beans N2, 700. For rice, a 50kg bag is now sold at N40, 000, half bag is sold at N20, 000; five litres of Kings vegetable oil at N7, 500; a paint of white garri at N900; yellow garri at N1000; five litres of palm oil at N8, 000 while 10 litres goes for N16, 000. A paint of hand peeled egusi (melon) costs N6, 500,” she said.

A retired civil servant, Mrs. Nwordim Ugboaku, said the current cash crunch and high cost of living in the country have brought much hardship on her family.

(culled from Guardian)