Zamfara State residents, especially Muslims, have lamented the high cost of living, saying that the prices of foodstuffs continue to escalate unabated daily.
DAILY POST visited some main markets in the Gusau metropolis and spoke with sellers and buyers who lamented that most of the essential foodstuffs have gone beyond the reach of many households during this Ramadan period.
According to a watermelon seller, Ishiaku Ibrahim, there is no watermelon of N100 now as bandits did not allow farmers to access their farmlands.
“Those who summon the courage to go to their farms price their produce exorbitantly due to the risk and transportation, which have increased by hundred per cent,” he added.
“Apart from watermelon, other kinds of fruits and vegetables, the prices of foodstuffs have gone beyond the reach of many people.”
Another trader, Ibrahim Yahaya, who deals in tomatoes, onions and fresh pepper, lamented that they are equally facing serious low patronage due to the economic hardship being faced by Nigerians.
One of the buyers, Mrs Agnes Ibukunle, also lamented that the situation is not only affecting the Muslims but the entire population of the state.
Ibukunle lamented that many households could not afford two meals a day.
“The situation is like this now, and nobody can exactly tell what will happen when Christians’ Easter and Muslims’ celebrations come. We are in a serious economic mess.
“The Federal Government should, as a matter of urgency, tackle the security and economic woes in the land because it seems as if the rich are getting richer while the poor are getting poorer.”
When DAILY POST visited the meat section of the Gusau Central Market, the lamentation was the same. Meat sellers were equally complaining of low patronage.
“Most of our customers were lamenting that they needed food first before talking about meat. And we don’t blame them because of the biting economic situation in the entire country,” said Muhammad Imran.
Economic hardship: Zamfara residents lament high cost of living