Yuletide: Prices of tomatoes, vegetables increase in some Abuja markets

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With barely 24 hours to Christmas, prices of tomatoes and other vegetables have increased in some major markets in Abuja, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
A survey conducted at Wuse, Utako and Gwarimpa markets on Tuesday showed that a 40 kilogramme (kg) basket of tomato which cost between N6, 500 and N7, 000 in November now costs N8, 000.
Similarly, a 50kg basket of pepper which was previously sold between N8, 000 and N10, 000 now costs between N20, 000 and N23, 000, while a 65. 7kg bag of onions which sold between N17, 000 and N18, 000 now costs N28, 000.
Mr Murtala Aminu, a tomato seller at Wuse market expressed concern that while costs of items in the market were increasing, the level of patronage is on the decline.
He attributed the declining patronage on tomatoes to people travelling out of the city.
According to him, you know this is a festive period and people are travelling, so, they will not want to buy perishable items along with them.
“Hopefully, people will buy before Christmas,” Aminu said.
Also, Malam Ahmed Isa said “the market is moving slowly however, lots of goods are perishing due to the sudden increase in prices.’’
Isa emphasised the need for the country to invest more in agriculture with a view to reducing the prices of food items and make the cost of living cheap.
“Also, many people are not buying now because the power supply is poor, there is no light to preserve their foods,” Isa added.
A customer, Mrs Juliana Agbo, said that the recent increase in prices of food items would discourage her to buy as much as needed.
Agbo urged the Federal Government to intensify efforts to ensure the economy improves so as to give Nigerians more purchasing power.

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