Beatrice Gondyi Bauchi
Rising transportation costs and changing food prices are putting pressure on traders and consumers at C & C Wuntin Dada Market in Bauchi, with traders calling for government intervention to reduce the cost of fuel.
Speaking during a visit to the market, traders dealing in cooking oil, grains, beans and other food commodities said transportation costs were affecting their businesses, while consumers were increasingly forced to adjust their purchases because of changing prices.
Mohammed Idris, a palm and groundnut oil seller at the market, said the prices of his products had remained relatively stable despite the challenges faced by traders.
He said a gallon of palm oil sells for about ₦9,500, while a jerry can costs between ₦50,000 and ₦51,000, with half a jerry can selling for about ₦27,000.
According to him, traders sometimes avoid increasing prices significantly because of customers’ reactions.
Idris, however, said transportation had become a major challenge following the removal of the fuel subsidy.
He said he previously paid about ₦1,000 to get to the market but now spends about ₦2,000.
“That is our greatest challenge,” he said, calling on the government to reduce the price of fuel.
Another trader, Ismail Wuntin Dada, who sells grains, listed groundnuts at ₦1,300 per mudu, tigernuts at ₦800, rice at ₦1,300, beans at between ₦1,100 and ₦1,400 depending on the variety, millet at ₦600, guinea corn at ₦400, wheat at ₦1,200 and sesame at ₦1,300.
Meanwhile, Mohammed Kabiru, a trader dealing in soya beans, rice and corn, said the price of soya beans had increased to about ₦1,200 from between ₦800 and ₦1,000 the previous month.
Kabiru attributed the increase partly to competition from companies which, according to him, buy directly from farmers.
He said the situation was making it difficult for small traders to compete because they have to buy at higher prices before selling to consumers.
Kabiru also identified inconsistencies in the quantity of grains contained in bags as another challenge faced by traders.
He appealed for government support through access to capital and measures to reduce transportation costs.
For Mohammed Abba, a beans seller, prices vary according to the type of beans, with locally produced varieties selling for about ₦1,500 to ₦1,700.
He said beans prices had increased compared with the previous month and also cited transportation costs as a major challenge.
Abba called for government intervention to ease the burden on traders and consumers.
On the consumer side, a shopper, Asma’u Habu, said changing prices were affecting her ability to complete her planned purchases.
“Yes, there is a wide margin. I don’t always buy everything I set out to buy in the market because prices are always changing,” she said.
The market observations indicate that while prices of some commodities remain relatively stable, traders and consumers at C & C Wuntin Dada Market continue to contend with transportation costs and fluctuations in the prices of some food items.
The traders called for government intervention to reduce transportation costs and ease the pressure on their businesses and consumers.
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