JUST IN; Drop in food prices excites Traders, Consumers
JUST IN; Drop in food prices excites Traders, Consumers
Some Lagos State foodstuff traders and consumers have expressed excitement over the recent drop in the prices of foodstuff.
The consumers and traders disclosed this in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos.
They, however, hoped for the sustainability of the price drop as consumers were beginning to enjoy the respite.
A foodstuff trader at the Dopemu area of the state, Mr Sunday Okwudiri, said the price drop was beneficial to both consumers and traders, a situation he attributed to reduced cost of transportation.
“It is true that the prices of most food items have dropped and we are grateful for that. Food items such as rice, beans and garri have witnessed a commensurate drop in their prices.
“We sold a 50kg bag of rice last December between N80,000 and N90,000, but now the same quantity of rice sells between N70,000 and N75,000.
“We really cannot tell the reason for the drop in the food prices but one good indicator is that the expenses incurred in logistics have significantly dropped.
“Like traders will say, ‘road don free small’. We hope it continues like that,” Okwudiri said.
Another foodstuff trader at the Agege area of the state, Mr John Nwabueze, also alluded to the recent drop in the price of food items, which he attributed to the harvest season of some produce.
“The price of food items especially rice and beans is really dropping gradually as we have observed since the year began.
“As of the first week of January, we sold a bag of rice between N90,000 and N96,000 but now the same bag goes for N76,000.
“Beans have been dropping more and more since last year. As of November 2024, we had beans at the highest price. An average bag was sold for as high as N230,000 to N270,000 but now the same quantity sells for N80,000.
“We really cannot tell the reasons for the drop in the price of these food items but we are glad they are dropping.
“We are also in the harvest season for some of these produce,” Nwabueze said.
Mrs Judith Amen, another foodstuff trader at the Amuwo area of the state, also corroborated the slight drop in some food prices.
“Well, there is a slight drop in the price of rice but not so much. A bag of good quality rice sells at N82,000 as against N90,000 to N95,000 it was sold for earlier.
“The bag of rice that sell at N75,000 per bag are not high quality rice as some may get mushy easily when boiled.
“The price of beans have been dropping since late last year. This is the season of beans because it is being harvested.
“A 60kg of beans used to sell up to N300,000 per bag but now sells between N150,000 and N90,000 depending on the variety.
“A bag of garri now sells between N35,000 and N45, 000 as against N60,000. So, we can say there is a drop,” Amen said.
Also, Mrs Lilian Agunbiade, a resident at Agege area of state, said the joy of being able to buy foodstuff and getting all your supplies is next to none.
“I went to the market this weekend to stock up for my household and my business and I observed some prices of the foodstuff items have actually dropped.
“This drop in price is indeed a welcome development. I bought a paint bucket of garri (cassava granules) between N3,200 and N3,500 in January but it sells at N2,000 for a paint bucket.
“Also, the price of vegetable oil has considerably dropped, as at December 2024, it sold for more than N100,000 for a 25 litre keg.
“But presently, the same quantity of vegetable oil has dropped down to N70,000 or N75,000 depending on the brand.
“Also, the price of baking flour has also dropped. A 50kg bag of all purpose flour used to sell at N62,000 but now it sells at N59,000.
“Generally, I observed all the prices of foodstuff items dropped a little bit almost across all products sold in the market.
“I am happy to purchase at the rate I did and got the items I needed for my house. I think the drop may be related to the drop of the dollar in comparison to the Naira, we hope it continues like this,” Agunbiade said.
On her part, Mrs Eugenia Uloma, a housewife and resident at Egbeda area of the state, expressed scepticism over the price drop while hoping it would be sustained.
“Well, I cannot say the price of foodstuff items have really dropped, because it is slight drop.
“Some food items have witnessed price drop because it is their season, beans is being harvested, so the price will definitely drop early in the year.
“The price of crayfish actually dropped too, I used to buy a paint bucket for N11,000 but now it sells at N8,000.
“If the drop is true, we just hope it will not rise again,” Uloma said. (NAN)
I recognise the role my family has played and continues to play in entrenching democracy, good governance, and the betterment of our people. I will never depart from the well-established path of honor, dignity, integrity, and service as personified by my late father.
Please permit me, dear colleagues, to restate my position as expressed in the newspaper publication, where I stated as follows: It is with heavy responsibility that I wish to resign my position as the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly with effect from this day, March 3, 2025. I took this decision carefully and with firm consideration. On one hand, I accepted the position of Speaker on January 13, 2025, and on the other hand, I resigned the position as it is threatening the democracy of this House.
As good people of Lagos, our mandate is to protect the good people of Lagos State and ensure good governance.
I feel that I have demonstrated leadership and selfless sacrifice by resigning in order to protect these resources that we have suffered to build. With your unwavering support, I take this step to step down as the Speaker of the House of Assembly.
I cherish the solidarity that I have enjoyed and that has been given to me by my honorable members. I do not leave out the management and staff of the Lagos State House of Assembly. I want to thank you for your support and collaboration.
As short as it is, this is a memorable event. I need you to permit me to resign as the Rt. Honorable Speaker, and I shall continue to serve my good people of Apapa Constituency 1 in particular and the entire Lagos State in general.
Thank you for finding me worthy to lead this distinguished and honourable Assembly. I am not a quitter; however, I took this bold decision in order to save this legislative institution from further unnecessary conflict and embarrassment.
Police restore Meranda’s security detail, explain withdrawal
Accordingly, I have agreed to yet again make a personal sacrifice by stepping down as the Speaker of this great Assembly.
Dear distinguished and gallant honourable members of this 10th Assembly, occasionally, we are confronted by overwhelming challenges and conflicts, but as responsible leaders, we must not break down the legislative House that we collectively built in pursuit of justice and fairness.
For those who have been unfairly referred to for standing on the side of fair play, kindly take note that there will always be an opportunity to right any wrong.
I appreciate the spectrum of solidarity that I received through phone calls, messages, and visits throughout my short tenure.
I sincerely thank you for your understanding and support, just as we know that party decisions are supreme.
At this point, I take a bow as your Speaker, and I step down as your Speaker for this great House.
News
BREAKING; President Tinubu approves 11 Universities (see full list and locations)
BREAKING; President Tinubu approves 11 Universities (see full list and locations)
The Federal Executive Council (FEC), at its third meeting of the year on Monday, approved provisional licenses for 11 private universities in the country.
Dr Morufu Alausa, the Minister of Education, said this while briefing State House Correspondents after the FEC meeting.
He said the universities approved were: New City University, Ayetoro Ogun; University of Fortune, Igbotako, Ondo State; Eranova University, Mabushi; Minaret University, Ikirun, Osun Annex and Abubakar Toyin University, Oke-Agba, Kwara.
Others are: Southern Atlantic University Uyo, Akwa Ibom; Lens University, ilemona, Kwara; Monarch University, Iyesi-Ota, Ogun; Tonnie Iredia University of Communication, Benin City; Isaac Balami University of Aeronautics and Management, Lagos and Kevin Eze University, Mgbowo, Enugu State.
Alausa said the administration of President Bola Tinubu was Committed to expanding the frontiers of educational opportunities and infrastructure, hence the approval of the new universities. (NAN)
News
S3xual harassment; Another Senator reveals eye’s Witness account of what transpired at Akpabio’s birthday
Natasha vs Akpabio; Senator reveals eye’s Witness account of what transpired at Akpabio’s birthday
The Deputy Chief Whip, Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, has vehemently denied the sexual harassment claims against Senate President Godswill Akpabio made by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
During a visit to his home in December 2023, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, reportedly accused Akpabio of making unwanted attempts toward her. During the visit, Akpabio allegedly offered an intimate relationship while showing her around his Ikot-Ekpene home, she recalled on February 28, 2025, on Arise TV’s ‘The Morning Show’.
When she went to his office to address her move regarding the Ajaokuta Steel Company, she said the identical request was made once more.
However, Senator Nwaebonyi, who was present at Akpabio’s birthday celebration, has denied the allegations.
In an interview on Arise TV on March 3, 2025, he stated that the Senate President did not make any inappropriate moves toward Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan during the event, adding that he had no knowledge of the alleged harassment.
“On the issue of sexual harassment as alleged by Natasha, as God would have it, I am an eyewitness, and as I posted on social media, I narrated what transpired. On that fateful day of December 8, 2023, I was among the Senators that attended the birthday ceremony of the Senate President.
“Right from Senator Attah Airport, I drove in the same vehicle with the Senator and her husband. In fact, I was in the front seat while the senator and her husband were in the back seat. We attended a series of programmes with the Senate President within Uyo town. At the end of the day, we moved to Ikot-Ekpene, the hometown of the Senate President.
“I remember very well, as we were coming down from the vehicle, she was complaining about her shoes paining her, and she and her husband (had) to stay back while I rushed inside to join other senators to inspect the building of the Senate President.
“I must tell you for free, and that’s the truth, that Senator Natasha never joined us inspecting the building of the Senate President. She was seated at the parlour with her husband. The Senate President took us around, took us to the chapel, and called those who were Catholic Senators to join him in a Holy Mass.
“We celebrated the Holy Mass and, at the end of the day, ended up in the garden as he hosted us. There was never a time when the Senate President touched Senator Natasha.
“There was never a time the Senate President told Senator Natasha do you like my house? We will come back to have a good time. That never happened, Senator Natasha knows that very well.
“It is disheartening and unbelievable for a Senator of the Federal republic to, out of mere provocation — simply because you were given a new seat and probably your committee was changed — get up to lay a false allegation against a man that is old enough to be your father.
“The Senate can’t act on hearsay. Senator Natasha has never presented any issue before us.”