A cross-section of some Nigerians in Plateau, Benue and Taraba states have expressed divergent views over the current prices of goods and services in the country.

The respondents, who spoke in separate interviews, in Jos, Makurdi and Jalingo on Sunday, said prices of food had continued to increase in some markets while in some the cost was decreasing.

They, however, expressed worry that the unstable food prices were not a good sign even with the slight fall in dollar against the naira.

The respondents therefore, urged the government to intervene urgently, to ensure a stable exchange rate and reduce the hardships Nigerians were currently undergoing.

A businesswoman in Jos, Chinasa Ojobo, said life had become more difficult compared to the previous years because of the soaring prices of goods, especially foodstuffs amid fall in dollar price.

He said, “The continuous increase in the prices of goods and services is telling on Nigerians. As of today, the price of a kilogramme of cooking gas is between N1, 300 and N1, 500, against the former price of between N700 and N800. As business people even, we are not finding it easy, because patronage has drastically reduced. People are battling with how to survive before thinking of other things. But at the same time, I am grateful to God for the gift of life.’’

Chairman of Grains Traders Association in Kasuwan Bera, Jalingo, Gabriel Manu, said that the continuous rise in the prices of food items in the state, despite the appreciation of the naira might be as a result of sharp rise in the price of fuel.

Mr Manu said fuel had risen to as much N820 per litre in many filling stations in the state, and that the NNPC mega station, which was selling at N630, always had long queues, which often discouraged most commercial drivers, who were the people conveying the goods.

The chairman advised government agencies in charge of regulating prices of petroleum products, to ensure compliance with approved pump prices to curb the rising food prices.

In Makurdi however, some of the respondents said some prices of foodstuffs such as dried cassava, yam flour, used for making fufu and amala respectively, had dropped significantly.

A seller of dried cassava in Makurdi, Nguvan Chagba, said that the big bag of the commodity, which was sold between N50,000 and N55,000, was now selling for between N35,000 and N38,000.

According to Ms Chagba, the price of the same bag even sells for as low as N25, 000 at Fiidi market.

She further said that a big sack of amala (yam flour), sold for between N35,000 and N40,000, was now selling for between N25,000 and N30,000, depending on the grade.

On her part, a grain seller in Makurdi, Scholastica Utoo, however, said that a big bag of maize, which sold for N60,000 between December 2023 and March this year, was now selling between N80,000 and N75,000 depending on the market and quality.

According to Mr Utoo, a small bag of the same commodity, which sells for N55, 000 now, was sold between N40,000 and N45,000 in the same period under review.

A millet seller, Grace Tyungu, said that a big bag of millet, which sold for N75, 000 across major markets in Benue State, was now selling for N80, 000.

Also,  a soybean trader, Tabitha Ishir, said that a bag of the commodity was now sold for N60,000 at Akpagher market, Gboko Local Government Area of the state, but it was sold for N45,000 between December and February.

According to a tomato seller in Makurdi, Kwasedoo Atim, a big size of custard container now sells for N3,000, but it was sold for N1,500 between January and March this year.

Mr Atim further disclosed that a big custard container of pepper, which sold for N2, 000 in the same period, was now selling for N3,500.

A garri vendor in Makurdi, Rose Anongo, said that a big bag which sold for about N30, 000 in the period under review, was now selling at up to N55, 000 depending on the quality.

A beans seller, Bala Audu, said that a big bag of the popular iron beans, which used to be N135,000, was now being sold at N150,000.

Meanwhile, the majority of the respondents decried the rising food prices.

A house help in Jos, Aminat Mohammed, recalled buying food at affordable prices, and how the family she worked for always had a lot to eat and give out to others.

Mr Mohammed said unfortunately, the current economic situation had made it impossible for the family to buy enough to eat.

“We barely have enough to eat now, talk more about giving and sharing with others. The situation is not good at all. I am still grateful I could at least have a nice time with my family. I urge the government to do something about the increasing food prices,” she said.

A student of the University of Jos, Ahmed Salihu, Isaid; “the prices of goods and services were too outrageous.

“The sellers are still buying their goods for high prices, in spite of the appreciation of the naira against the dollar. People are charging so much for their services because the naira lacks value and they are not seeing any sign of prices of commodities reducing anytime soon,’’ Mr Salihu said.

A civil servant, Chundung Davou, said that life had not been easy because of the hike in prices of goods, particularly foodstuff.

Mr Davou blamed the continuous rise in the prices of goods to the removal of fuel subsidy and the unstable exchange rate.

“The prices of the food of the common man such as rice, maize, beans, yam, among others, have all skyrocketed. This is why there is hardship everywhere, except few individuals whose income can afford these items. The situation started getting worse when the government announced the removal of fuel subsidy, and later the rise in exchange rate between the dollar and the naira. It is our prayer that the government will do something soon, and things will return to normal so that the living condition of Nigerians will improve,” she said. (NAN)