…as ram prices soar
By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo
Ahead of the Eid-el-Kabir celebration, traders at major markets in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, have expressed concerns over poor sales, attributing the low patronage to the lack of money in circulation despite the relative stability in food prices.
A visit to Alekuwodo Market in Osogbo revealed that while the prices of some food items remain relatively stable or have even dropped, residents are not turning up to buy. At the same time, at the Temidire Ram Market, the prices of rams have increased, compounding the worries of prospective Eid buyers.
At Alekuwodo Market, essential food items remain within moderate price ranges. A 50kg bag of rice currently sells for ₦62,000, Oloyin beans go for ₦80,000, and Sokoto and Drum beans are priced at ₦115,000.
Vegetable oil prices reflect a similar trend: a 25-litre container of King brand sells for ₦73,000, while the Nike brand goes for ₦63,500. Palm oil now sells for ₦50,000, up slightly from the previous ₦37,000–₦40,000 range. A 10kg bag of Semovita now sells for ₦16,000, down from ₦18,000, while the 1kg pack dropped to ₦1,800 from ₦2,000. Gari, once sold at ₦35,000 per bag, now goes for ₦28,000.
However, traders lamented that the reductions have done little to improve sales, saying, “There is no money in town,” as one trader remarked.
A big bowl of tomatoes now costs ₦7,000, rodo ₦9,000, and both tatase and bawa ₦15,000. According to sellers, the increase in the prices of tatase and bawa was linked to the collapse of the Mokwa Bridge in Niger State, which has disrupted the supply chain from northern Nigeria.
Meanwhile, at the Temidire Ram Market along the Stadium area, prices have spiked significantly ahead of the Eid-el-Kabir celebration. Though the market is well-stocked, patronage remains low.
Rams are priced between ₦110,000 and ₦1.1 million, depending on size. Sellers decried the high cost of transportation, citing the increase in fuel pump prices and the continued scarcity of money in circulation.