With the current economic hardship showing no signs of abating soon, some families in Benin City say they are preparing for a low-key celebration this Christmas, as the soaring prices of goods have made their finances tight.
Our correspondent went to town to monitor activities across markets in the metropolis and also sampled the opinions of some Benin residents on their preparations ahead of the yuletide.
Mrs Helen Damian and Mrs Osawense Okungbowa who deal in poultry decried the low patronage occasioned by the high cost of chicken which now goes for between eight thousand five hundred and thirty thousand naira depending on the breed.
Chairman of Aduwawa cattle and livestock market, Alhaji Haliru Saliu Haliru, and a dealer in goats, Sani Zamfara also decried low patronage, even as prices of cow ranges from seven hundred thousand to two million naira, and goats going for eighty thousand to one hundred and twenty thousand naira.
Mrs Faith Ozemeya and Miss Ada Sylvanus also decried low patronage even though they had stocked up their shops in readiness for Christmas sales.
Mrs Praise Eromonsele and another trader who gave her name as Mama Williams shared divergent experiences with their patronage so far.
A bag of pepper now goes for as much as thirty thousand naira, and a basket of tomatoes sells for between thirty five to fifty thousand, while a bag of onions took a giant leap from seventy thousand to two hundred and seventy thousand naira.
Abubakar Haruna and Sani Abdullahi attributed the hike in price to transportation and erosion in parts of the northern region where the crops are cultivated.
Some parents including, Mr John Salami and Orobosa Igbinedion stated that celebrating Christmas was not a do or die affair, as such they will make do with the little they can afford for the celebration, and hope their children understand the situation of things.
Meanwhile, as it’s typical of festive periods, cash transactions will be in high demand.
The branch manager of one of the commercial banks in Benin City, Mr Okechukwu Onuoha, assured that modalities have been put in place to ensure seamless transactions during the festive season.
The respondents called on the federal government to set machinery in motion to ease the sufferings of the masses going into the new year.
