Nigerians hope for lower food prices

Some Nigerians have expressed mixed feelings over the federal government’s planned duty-free period on some basic food items in the country.

While investors expressed optimism, other Nigerians told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday that they were rather lukewarm about the policy.

Residents argued that experience had taught them that an increase in the prices of goods was possible, but a decrease in prices was almost impossible, regardless of the circumstances.

Recall that on July 8, the federal government announced a 150-day duty-free window for the import of certain food products.

In this regard, the government has suspended customs duties, tariffs and taxes on the import of certain food products across land and sea borders.

The government has also expressed its readiness to work with states to increase the area under agricultural crops in a bid to combat rising inflation that has left many Nigerians impoverished.

Apo trader Funmi Adebayo said the soaring cost of basic food items was a constant struggle for him.

Adebayo welcomed the government intervention with cautious optimism, saying if the goal was achieved, it would ease the suffering of Nigerians.

“The price of rice is constantly rising, making life difficult for both sellers and buyers.

“A bag of foreign rice that was sold for N75,000 a few weeks ago is now selling for between N85,000 and N90,000.

“This duty-free policy can help reduce costs, and that will be a huge relief for people like me who are struggling to make ends meet,” she said

Another trader, Kasim Mustafa, who sells cereals and other food items at the Apo fish market, also complained about the high cost of goods and low sales.

Mustafa said the policy would ease the burden of rising food prices and improve food security in the country.

“This is a positive development for us, even if it will only last a short time.

“Two or three weeks ago, I sold dry maize and guinea fowl mudu for N13,500 to N1,400 but today I am selling them for N1,500.

“If this policy leads to a drop in food prices, it will please Nigerians who rely on these staples to feed their families,” he said.

According to him, this will increase sales to traders and thus provide them (traders) with more money to support our families and develop our businesses.

Chinedu Okeke, a craftsman and widower with three children, had similar feelings.

“Since I lost my wife, things haven’t been easy for me and now I’m faced with the responsibility of providing for and taking care of my children, all by myself.

“Every trip to the market is a challenge because my salary has not increased for two years and the cost of living is increasing day by day.

“The average person these days is going without food because the groceries they used to be able to afford are no longer available,” Okeke said.

According to him, the price of mudu, which was once enjoyed by many ordinary Nigerians, is now N3,500, which is an extremely high price.

Okeke said: “If the government manages to reduce the cost of rice, wheat, beans and maize, it will make a big difference to my family.”

Gladys Anthony, a civil servant, also said she was open to the federal government’s policies.

According to her, it will take God’s intervention and a great effort to bring down the prices of goods that have risen.

“I am an optimist like every Nigerian, but I will only express my joy when I see the prices of things start coming down,” she said.

Meanwhile, while urban consumers are eagerly awaiting a potential price cut, rural farmers have mixed feelings about the influx of duty-free imports.

A rice farmer in Benue, Terlumun Azege, said: “It is good that the government wants to help reduce food prices, but what about us farmers?

“The government must ensure a balanced policy that supports consumers and local producers because we need support to increase our yields and compete with imported goods.

“If the market is flooded with cheap imports, it could harm local agriculture in the long run, so we need to invest in agricultural technology and infrastructure to be self-sufficient,” he said.

Financial expert Chinonso Onyeka said while the policy was a step in the right direction, it needed to be part of a broader strategy.

“We need to ensure that local farmers are not left behind and that measures are in place to ensure food security beyond the 150 days.

“We appreciate the government’s efforts, but we also need to see long-term change. Affordable food shouldn’t be something temporary; it should be a permanent reality.

“There is therefore an urgent need to take sustainable and balanced actions that will support consumers and local producers in the long term,” Onyeka said.