As Christmas and New Year celebrations draw near, many Nigerian households are adjusting their plans in response to soaring food prices, which have made traditional holiday meals a luxury for many.
The prices of stable festive items such as chickens and turkeys, have skyrocketed.
In markets across the the country, chickens now cost N15,000 and N25,000, while turkeys are being sold for as high as N130,000 in some areas.
Market vendors attribute the sharp rise to factors such as increased transportation costs, high feed prices, and supply chain disruptions.
At the popular Jos Abbatoir market, the prices of chickens are sold for N25,000.
In Abuja’s Utako and Wuse markets, local turkeys are priced between N85,000 and N130,000, which “agric” turkeys range from N110,000 to N140,000.
Similarly, In Plateau, chickens are sold for N8,000 and N25,000, and turkeys range from N70,000 to N110,000, with traders lamenting low patronage despite the season.
Other essential items have also seen steep price hikes. Groundnut oil, a key ingredient in festive meals now costs #18,000 for a 5-litre gallon, while brands like King and Golden Terra are selling for up to N100,000 for a 25kg bottle in Lagos.
The cattle market has been spared, with cows price between N700,000 and N1.5 million, depending on size.
For civil servants and low-income earners, the high cost of living has turned a season of joy into one of anxiety and sadness.
“In what should be a happy time for families has become a stressful period”, said Peter Mafulul, a civil servant in Plateau.
However, some Nigerians are finding ways to celebrate despite the challenges.
An entrepreneur in Lafia, Nasarawa State capital, shared her gratitude, despite the hardships, saying, God has been faithful in sustaining her family to live in the critical circumstances.
“The most important thing is that God has preserved us to see another Christmas”, she said.
As economic hardship persists, this festive season may see more families embracing modest celebrations, finding joy in the little things amidst tough circumstances.
-9News Nigeria.
