Voices of Distress: An Opinion Poll on Soaring Food Prices and Economic Hardships

By Nightengale Ben-Onyeukwu

 

Introduction

In today’s unsettling economic climate, the skyrocketing prices of essential goods have become a pressing concern for many. In this blog publication, we turn our attention to the voices of those most affected by these challenges – local traders. Through an exclusive opinion poll, we aim to shed light on the profound impact of surging food prices and the hardships faced by individuals striving to make ends meet.

Mr.Ekene Chigozie: The Impact on Local Traders

The significant increase in food prices has affected us in many ways. Sometimes, it’s hard for us to attract customers because of the high food prices in the market. This discourages our customers from buying. At times, most of them end up buying and choosing to owe us because the prices are too high. For example, if a seller used to sell two bags of rice daily, now it's challenging to sell even one bag daily. This same situation affects other food items too. Sometimes, you might go to the market to buy a bag of rice for 40,000 naira, but the next day, it increases to 45,000, and you may not have enough money to buy another one. When there are price increases, it becomes tough to attract customers.

Joy Uzowuru: A Struggle to Make Ends Meet

I’ve been going through a tough time. I’m struggling, and things are getting more difficult every day. As a trader, I see my money decreasing every day. What used to cost ten naira today now costs 20 naira tomorrow. We’re asking the government for assistance. I really need financial help.

Mr. Onyeakwuluka Emeribe: A Call for Government Support

Buying and selling have become very expensive, and there’s not much money around. We really need the government’s help because people are suffering from hunger due to these tough times.

Nwaiwu Chinoso Nkem: The Fuel Price Connection

In general, when fuel prices rise, everything else follows suit. You might not realise how tough things are until there's a fuel increase. It has really affected everyone in the market. Prices for everything have shot up. If the government wants to make a positive change, they should quickly reduce fuel prices. The people are suffering, especially those in the markets, and many of them are struggling to make sales. This is the situation we are currently facing. The market is often slow because people are not meeting their sales targets. But we're hopeful that things will return to normal soon.

Vivian Onyeneke: Customer Disappearance Due to Price Hikes

Since prices started going up, my customers have been disappearing. The rice I used to buy for 35,000 Naira now costs 40,000 to 45,000 Naira. Even the cups of rice we used to sell for 150 Naira are now 180 Naira because of the increase in prices.

Lucky Onyeneke: Addressing the Root Cause

The main reason for this increase is the fuel subsidy. People are now buying only what they really need instead of their preferences. If the government takes action on this fuel subsidy, I am confident that things will return to normal.

Conclusion: Take Action

In the poignant accounts shared by these local traders, we glimpse the daily struggles faced by many in the wake of soaring food prices and economic hardships. Their sincere calls for government intervention underscore the urgency of the situation. As we explore potential solutions and actions to address these issues, let us remain hopeful that brighter days lie ahead, where the burden of rising costs may be alleviated, and the voices of distress find the relief they seek.