My view on the high cost of items in my country

The rate at which the prices of things increase by the day is truly alarming. I wonder where we are going from here, I just hope God will intervene because it's just too much.

"Where we for go for this country like this? E don tire me ooo. Ordinary beans for prisoners na 500 for 1cup, rice for poor man 500 for 1cup, garri for the poor people too don turn big man matter. God abeg o!"

Words from a woman in the market echoed into my ears. At my side, I was just murmuring as the palm oil I used to buy 800 naira for a bottle of 75cl was suddenly increased to 1200. While trying to buy stuff in the market, men and women were complaining of the sudden hardship in the country.

^{Designed with Canva}

You'll hear things like "Nigeria is a scam," "no be me do you o, if you no want buy, look front, no be me be your problem, na your leaders." And many more you'll hear while stepping out to buy any item. It is no news that the prices of items in Nigeria have become expensive from when our dear president, at his swearing-in on 29th May 2023, said he would remove fuel subsidies.

It was from there the price of fuel increased from 500 to 700-750. And then the prices of transportation fares increased and the prices of items also skyrocketed. But the sudden increase from the beginning of September is just unbearable.

I'll basically list food items because, as a mother, that's what I buy every day.

It's a call for concern anyway, but as a citizen, I'm as helpless as anyone else. I just can't help but to just follow, though it hasn't been easy.

What I basically do is, I curtail some of our meals to the minimum. For example, I adjust and substitute some items in our meal plan.

1. Instead of meat (beaf) at all times, I use egg instead, especially for breakfasts.

2. Someone showed a video of using a cucumber for stew on Facebook. I've been using carrots for years now, cucumbers weren't new to me. I have tried using cucumber for stew, since the carrot itself is expensive.

3. Before, we bought a big sachet of milk and chocolate beverages, now I go for the smaller ones. Everyone takes a sachet of each, instead of scooping so much at a time.

4. Instead of buying table water, I resolve to treat our water, and drink from there.

^{My visit to the market to ascertain prices of items}

Cause of the sudden increase

The cause of the sudden increase in the price of items is linked to the price of petrol. Since the price of petrol has increased, everything also increases because goods are transported from one point to another through vehicular movements. These vehicles use petrol. If the drivers buy expensive fuel, they are expected to make their gain. To make gain, it is through increasing transport fares. When transport fares increase, prices of goods will automatically increase as well. Everything is just a game of interest.

Another reason is due to the increment of minimum wage in the country's civil service. The reason for the increment based on this fact, I still don't understood but, according to speculations about the increase in the price of goods, workers salary increment is one of the cause.

I want to travel to Europe. I have researched some European countries in which their living standards are manageable and their jobs manageable. I have many friends who have travelled to the United Kingdom and Canada, since I don't intend to travel, I have no certain country in mind.

The rate at which the prices of goods increase by the day is annoying and sickly. It actually calls for concerns, but where do we go? Who will we call? Who will answer us? After the so-called protest this past August, things have become more expensive and difficult than one's imagination.

It's left for us to work hard in order to cope with the situation here in Nigeria, but for how long? This is draining.

Pictures all shot with my phone itel A70

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