News
Eid-el Kabir: Traders, buyers lament high cost of goods, services in Ibadan

With Eid-el-Kabir celebrations fast approaching, some traders and buyers in Ibadan have expressed concern over high cost of rams, foodstuffs and other commodities and services.
A survey carried out by newsmen in some markets in Ibadan revealed that all the respondents were bothered by the unstable nature of prices of goods and services.
Price checks at ram markets in New Ife Road, Egbeda, Adegbayi and Alakia areas of Ibadan showed that an average-sized ram, which sold for N40,000 in 2020, now cost between N60,000 and N65,000.
It was also observed that a big-sized ram sold for between N80,000 and N120,000.
At Aleshinloye market, rams cost between N30,000 and N110,000, a price range whichAbdullahi Hashim, a ram seller, considered to be exorbitant.
According to Mr Hashim, the high price was due to the security condition in the northern part of the country as well as high cost of transportation.
Similarly, another ram seller, Mr Ibrahim Jamiu, blamed transporters bringing the rams from the north for charging exorbitant fares.
Mr Jamiu added, “even the prices of rams we rear here are high, because their feeds are costly too.
“We are only appealing to government to let its economic policies allow businesses to grow.”
A man, Abdulazeez Adeleke, who bought a ram for N63,000 at Adegbayi, lamented its high price and those of other items.
According to him, the high cost of rams, food items and other consumables might not allow many families to celebrate the Salah as they would have loved to.
Another ram buyer, AbdulRashid Jimoh, said although rams were very much available, the prices were out of reach.
He, however, said that he could not but buy for his parents, no matter the cost.
In his opinion, Mr Sanusi Hassan, a ram buyer at Aleshinloye market, linked the scarcity and high cost of the animal with the cancellation of the 2021 hajj pilgrimage by Saudi Arabian Government.
This, he said, had created room for more Muslim faithful, who would have celebrated Salah in Saudi Arabia, to be at home for the festival.
Mr Morufu Sani, an intending ram buyer at Ojo-Oba market, regrettably said he could not afford to buy a ram due to its high cost.
“A big ram of my choice is sold for N140,000.
“Where do I get such money? Any meat we see, no matter how small, my family and I will manage it,” he said.
However, a rice seller at Oja-Oba market, Alhaja Olugbade Salami, said that prices of all foodstuffs, including rice, had increased even before the onset of the festive period.
“A bag of rice that we used to sell at below N20,000 is now sold for N26,000 and it is quite unfortunate that there’s no patronage now like before,” she said.
Meanwhile, Bisola Salawu, an onion seller, said that buyers were no longer buying in bulk due to the hike in price of the item.
“Forty pieces of onion that we used sell for N2,000 before now sell for N2,500, and you will hardly see people buying in bulk as they used to,” she said.
As for tomatoes, a seller, Kawa Aminat, told NAN that a bucket of tomatoes, which sold for N800 in 2020, now sold for between N1,500 and N2,000.
“Almost all the prices of commodities brought from the North have gone up due to COVID-19 issues, transportation cost and farmers/herders’ crises.
For instance, six pieces of yam that used to sell for N4,500 now went for N6,000, resulting in reduced patronage,” she said.
Secretary of Arewa Pepper Sellers Association of Oyo State, Mallam Illiasu Bala, also said that Tatashe (Bell pepper) and Bawa (Sombo), which formerly sold at N7,000 per bag, had each increased to N20,000 per bag.
Also, Chairman of the Oyo State Onion Sellers’ Association, Alhaji Azeez Ademola, who explained that onion was not in season, said that a small bag of onions was now N20,000, while the big bag was now N30,000.
A vegetable oil seller at Ojo-Oba market, who simply identified herself as Alhaja, said she had not sold anything since she opened her shop in the morning.
“A five-litre Kings Oil that was around N3,500 before is now sold for N5,000, and there’s no market. I have been sitting down like this since morning.
“Everywhere is dry. Whether Ileya or not, customers are not coming. Many people are even living on loans,” she said.
According to reports, the prices of textile materials at Gbagi textile market remained stable, with 12 yards of locally-made Ankara fabric selling for between N3,000 and N7,000, depending on the quality.
However, a textile dealer, Mrs Aliratu Lasisi, complained of low patronage, attributing it to the poor economic situation of the country.
She observed that people were now more concerned about what to eat than what to wear.
Her submission was affirmed by operators in the fashion industry, as some tailors and fashion designers said there had been sharp decline in patronage, in spite of the Sallah that was fast approaching.
A tailor, Saliu Ojedele, said, “Gone are days when we used to hire more hands to work night shifts in order to meet up with customers’ demands.
“Ordinarily, we ought to have started doing that, but it’s quite different now,” he said.
A customer, Mr Abdullahi Wasiu, however, said that he was more particular about getting his children clothes to make them happy and comfortable in the midst of their peers and extended family members.
“For adults, you can wear whatever you have, especially if there are no means of buying new dresses. Aside that, getting ram is more important than buying new dresses,” he said.
Contrarily, a jeweler, Miss Nkechi Emeka, said that the soaring prices of consumer goods and services had not dampened people’s morale towards shopping.
“I will not say people are not buying like before. Yes, the percentage of those who usually visit markets during festive periods has reduced, but sellers are also not able to meet the demands.
“This is because of the increase in dollar rate and some of us did not have enough money to stock up before this week.
“Some sellers have even run out of goods because they didn’t get enough money to buy before this period,” she said.
Corroborating, Emeka, a clothe vendor, described the rising prices of goods as an unfavourable trend for both buyers and small business owners.
“What some of us did to prepare for the demands of this season was to form groups. We contributed money to buy in bulk; we then split the goods for sale.
“However, the amount that we used to spend on purchasing 10 cartons is now what we use to buy one or two cartons.
“The prices are even unstable. What you buy today at N50,000 may go up to N55,000 within a week.
“The economy is really biting hard and the unstable prices have forced some of our colleagues to shut down,” she said.
A buyer, Mojo Daramola, who was at the market to shop for the festive period, lamented what she described as “outrageous prices”.
Mrs Daramola, who appealed to government to urgently intervene in driving down the prices of goods and services, said she was left with the option of buying fewer items, which mostly included her children’s clothes.
NAN
Headlines
Akwa Ibom APC Gears Up to Receive President Tinubu as Governor Umo Eno Joins Party

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State has announced its readiness to host President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other top party leaders as it officially welcomes Governor Umo Eno into its ranks.
Speaking at a press briefing in Uyo on Friday, APC chieftain and former presidential aide, Senator Ita Enang, disclosed that the party was fully prepared to receive the president, Vice President Kashim Shettima, APC National Chairman, and governors elected on the party’s platform for the historic reception.
Governor Umo Eno had on June 6 formally defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC, in a move widely described as a political game-changer in Akwa Ibom.
Enang, a former Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly and Niger Delta Affairs, said the governor’s defection had effectively aligned the state with the central government.
He assured Governor Eno and his supporters that the APC would embrace them wholeheartedly and honour all agreements reached.
“As progressives, we shall work with the governor and his supporters to ensure that they fit into the party without hitches,” Enang stated. “We will also work with them to align programmes of the state government with the ideals and manifesto of the party.”
He further described the governor’s move as a “merger” that promises significant benefits for Akwa Ibom and its citizens.
The planned reception is expected to mark a major political event in the state, signaling a realignment of forces ahead of future elections.
Headlines
Ekiti Launches Aggressive Anti-Flood Campaign, Dredges Ofigba River

The Ekiti State Government has intensified efforts to prevent flooding across the state with the launch of a comprehensive dredging campaign, targeting critical waterways in both rural and urban areas.
Chairman of the Ekiti State Environmental Protection Agency (EKSEPA), Chief Bamitale Oguntoyinbo, disclosed this on Friday during an inspection visit to the ongoing dredging project at the Ofigba River in Ise-Ekiti.
Oguntoyinbo, who was accompanied by EKSEPA board members, said the visit was to assess the progress of work being carried out to mitigate flood risks in the community. He expressed satisfaction with the pace and quality of the dredging work.
“I and other board members of EKSEPA are delighted with the level of job done by the site engineer because he is actually working with the directives of three-kilometer dredging of waterways,” he said.
According to him, the dredging commenced on June 4, and so far, 1.8 kilometers of the river have been successfully cleared.
He applauded Governor Biodun Oyebanji for prioritizing the safety and welfare of residents by initiating the state-wide anti-flooding campaign.
“I want to commend our amiable governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, for embarking on zero tolerance campaign against flooding in every community and town in Ekiti,” Oguntoyinbo stated.
He also praised the General Manager of EKSEPA, Mr. Olukayode Adunmo, for his commitment to the project’s supervision and success.
In his remarks, Adunmo emphasized the urgent need to clear waterways choked by refuse, which impede water flow and contribute to flooding during the rainy season.
“Dredging of Ofigba River in Ise-Ekiti in Ise/Orun Local Government Area is necessary because some of the waterways have been blocked by refuse,” he explained. “There is the need for us to remove every blockage to enhance free flow of water and avert flooding during heavy rainfall.”
Adunmo also commended Governor Oyebanji for taking proactive steps to protect lives and properties across the state.
Residents of Ise-Ekiti have welcomed the government’s intervention. Chief Godwin Ojo, a community leader, expressed gratitude to the governor for his timely action.
“We thank the governor for the move to avert flooding in our community,” Ojo said. “May God grant him more wisdom to pilot the affairs of the state to an enviable height.”
The dredging campaign forms part of the Oyebanji administration’s broader commitment to environmental safety and disaster prevention.
Developmental
Tinubu to visit Kaduna Thursday to inaugurate key projects

President Bola Tinubu is expected in Kaduna State Today Thursday for the inauguration of several key developmental projects executed by the administration of Gov. Uba Sani.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the visit forms part of activities marking Sani’s two years in office.
The projects lined up for inauguration include the 300-bed Specialist Hospital in Millennium City, Kaduna, built by the state government to bolster the provision of healthcare services.
Tinubu will also inaugurate the Institute of Vocational Training and Skills Development in Rigachikun, road projects in Soba, and Samaru Kataf LGA’S as well as the 24-kilometre Kafanchan Township Road.
Others are the Tudun Biri Road, the 22km road linking Kauru and Kubau LGAs as well as the Vocational and Skills Training Centre in Tudun Biri.
Tinubu is also expected to unveil 100 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses, as part of efforts to modernise the state’s public transportation system.
The projects are part of the administration’s focus on infrastructurde evelopment, healthcare delivery, youths empowerment, and economic growth.
The state government described the visit as a significant moment for the people of Kaduna and an opportunity to showcase ongoing efforts to transform the state through impactful governance.
Sani, who marked his second year in office this month, has prioritised human capital development, rural infrastructure, and jobs creation since taking office in 2023.
Tinubu’s visit to Kaduna State was rescheduled from Wednesday to Thursday.
He was initially supposed to visit Kaduna on Wednesday, but due to the recent attacks in Benue, he shifted his trip.
The president visited Benue on Wednesday to commiserate with the victims of the recent attacks and assess the humanitarian crisis.
During his visit to Benue, Tinubu met with stakeholders, including traditional rulers, political and community leaders, and youth groups, to seek lasting solutions to the hostilities.
He also condemned the ongoing violence and called on the residents to embrace peace and mutual understanding.
NAN recalls that the Benue Government had declared a work-free day for Tinubu’s visit, urging the residents to turn out in large numbers to welcome him.
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