The recent order by the Controller General of the Nigeria Customs Col Hameed Ali rtd has began sending negative signals in the food items market such as rice, Turkey and frozen chicken.
Already, many commentators have been speaking and advicing government to think of better alternatives otherwise this years Christmas will be bleak in view of the astronomical rise in both local and imported rice.
Market surveys show that market prices have doubled between August and the last week of September. At Ile Epo Market, Daleko, Mile 12, Isheri and Ogba, all in Lagos, a 50kg bag of imported rice that hitherto sold between N13,000 and N14,500 has now shot up to between N24,000 and N30,000, while the local variety of 50kg bag had risen from N14,000 to N18,000.
A 12.5kg plastic measure of the imported rice that hitherto sold for N3, 750 had moved up almost 100 per cent to N6, 000.
For the local variant, moved from N3, 500 to N4, 800.
The price of the smallest measure (Derica or Congo) (781g) of the imported rice has also shot up from N280 to N400 while the local variant has moved from N250 to N300. There are 64 of the measure in the 50kg bag.
One of the dealers in Ile Epo market Isa Mohammed has this to say “Since the borders have been shut, the prices of foreign parboiled rice have increased. The 50kg bag of such rice in July still sold between N13, 000 and N14, 500. It is now being sold between N24, 000 and N30, 000”. 
“Prices of other measures of the same variant have also increased.” Dealers in the staple food items told our correspondent that they had to increase the price of rice because the supply price had equally increased, “The 50kg bag of imported rice that used to sell for about N21, 000 now costs N30, 000. They said; The 50kg bag of local rice that was sold at N16, 000 now costs between N22, 500 and N23, 500″.
“We learnt that the government has closed the borders so the goods cannot come in again.”
The anonymous dealer told our correspondent why the border closure has affected the price. “They now sell the local rice to me at a higher price; so, I have to increase my price too.”
Another dealer who preferred anonymity told our correspondent that the prices of frozen Turkey had increased because of the closed border. “Before the border closure, frozen chicken and turkey were N1, 300 and N1, 400 per kilogramme, respectively. But it now costs N1, 500 and N1, 700 per kilogramme”.
One of the traders our correspondent spoke to confirmed that the price of tomatoes though fluctuates but has been more stable.
However, it was gathered that the prices of tomato had remained the same in the past one month.
A trader who identified himself as Adamu said that a basket of tomato is being sold for N17, 000.
He, however, said there was price fluctuation in the tomato business. For instance, Ajiboye recalled that the measure being sold at N17, 000 cost N7, 000 three months ago.
The Government said the borders will remain closed until the country rips the better of it. There are heightened fears that prices of essential items may soar high during the yuletide season beyond the reach of ordinary Nigerians
© Control TV 2019
