Many residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have decried the rising cost of onions, saying they can no longer afford the commodity. many markets show a sharp rise in the price of onions in recent weeks.
A vegetable seller at Madallah market, Hussaini Garba, told NAN that the price of onions had significantly increased, describing the development as worrisome.
Garba said a bag of onions which used to cost N50,000 few weeks ago, was currently being sold between N120,000 and N130,000.
“Last year was very difficult for onions farmers, which is why many people did not cultivate onions this year.
“Transportation costs have also increased, and it keeps rising every day, which is also contributing to the increase in the prices,” he said.
Another vendor at Suleja market, Sabi’u Ahmed, attributed the rise in price to reduced supply from producing areas due to seasonal shortage.
“Onions have also been affected by disease, which have contributed to the reduction in supply and increase in price,” he added.
Ahmed said a big basket of onions which was sold between N27,000 and N30,000 is now being sold between N70,000 and N75,000.
A trader at Dei-Dei Market, Madam Chika Ogar, said traders were forced to adjust their prices due to the high cost of transporting goods from suppliers to the market.
“Higher fuel prices have translated into increased transport fares,” she said.
According to her, a small basket of onions which she formerly sold between N5,000 and N6,000 is now being sold between N8,000 and N9,500.
A resident, Mirabel Augustine, said onions had become very expensive, and had forced her to adjust her budget.
“Onions are an essential ingredient in cooking and there is no suitable substitute for them.
“The increase in price has put additional pressure on our household expenses, as we still have to buy them in spite of the high cost,” She said.
She added that sometimes, she had to reduce the quantity she buys or cut down on other items just to afford them.
“I usually buy a basket, but now I can no longer afford it because it is now more than double its price ,” she added.
Another consumer, Ms Sadiya Usman, lamented the rising cost of onions, saying the development was putting additional pressure on her household budget.
She said the high price had forced her to reduce the quantity she usually bought, adding that what she previously purchased at a lower price could no longer be bought at the same price.
According to her, the situation is becoming difficult for households already struggling with the rising cost of other food items.
The residents appealed to the government to look into the rising cost of petrol which had led to a subsequent increase in transportation.
According to them, increase in transportation has led to the subsequent increase in the general prices of goods and services.
