Morenikeji, a 43-year-old woman, was observed trading banters with a seller in Bonke Quarters, Coca-Cola, Ilesa, while she picked pieces of ponmo from a large bowl.
The single mother of three, who recalled how she killed two hens she had raised to celebrate the previous Christmas, informed the ponmo seller that it is the time of Ponmo sellers to shine and make good sales due to the high market price of chicken or turkey.
When questioned why she did not raise hens this year, she cited the high cost of chicken feeds, noting that raising chickens or fish is one of the 100 ways to become bankrupt or financially crippled due to rising chicken feed costs.
“I cannot afford to raise or buy a chicken this year. I’ve opted in for ponmo, which will be supported by Sharwa fish. I also have friends who will go to abattoirs to buy cow meat. I cannot disappoint my kids. We will celebrate Christmas either way”, she further disclosed.
As Morenikeji was engaging in friendly banter with the ponmo seller, other women who came to buy ponmo were seen persuading or negotiating with the seller to reduce the price of ponmo, claiming that they would still buy rice, pepper, and drinks in order to prepare good meals for their children amid the Christmas celebration.
They expressed their displeasure over inflated prices of basic commodities, especially food items, arguing that Christmas celebrations will be adversely affected by the current economic challenges occasioned by fuel subsidy removal and inflation.
A check by WITHIN NIGERIA showed that the inflation rate in Nigeria increased to 34.60 percent in November from 33.88 percent in October of 2024, owing to higher prices of staple foods like yams, cocoyams, guinea corn, maize, rice, beer and vegetable oil.
A further check revealed that people also lamented inflated prices of staple foods and essential commodities in states like Osun, Ekiti, Ondo, Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Edo among others.
When WITHIN NIGERIA visited some markets, he observed that prices of staple foods including basic commodities have gone high. A broiler is sold for between N20000 to N25,000 , a layer is sold for between N12,000 to N15,000 while a turkey is sold for between N100,000 to N130,000. Cooking oil is priced at N45,000 for a 10-litre container and N95,000 for a 25-litre keg. A big basket of tomatoes costs between N55,000.
WITHIN NIGERIA also gathered that many Nigerians were unable to travel to their respective hometowns due to the high cost of PMS per litre and transportation expense.
Romoke, an Ilesa resident, expressed her discontent with her capacity to travel to Saki, her hometown, with her children to celebrate with her parents and other family members.
According to Romoke, the cost of sending her children to Saki might fund a modest get-together celebration.
The mother of four, who said that she had not seen her parents in more than a year, lamented how the exorbitant cost of transportation had denied her the opportunity to see her elderly parents for the Christmas holiday.
Another resident, Tolani, told WITHIN NIGERIA that Christmas and New year celebrations are not a top concern for her because she is preparing for her children’s return to school.
Tolani, a mother of three, revealed that 2024 will be the first Christmas she would experience without her husband, who is unable to return home due to exorbitant transportation costs.
“My concern is tuition payments and how to get my children to school. I am content with anything I eat throughout the Christmas and New Year holidays. My husband isn’t around. I am merely at home with my children. “We will eat whatever we see,” she said.
Segun Olawale, a social analyst, told WITHIN NIGERIA in a telephone conversation that Nigerians are going through a lot in this bad economy.
Olawale, who condemned the country’s rising rate of hunger and suffering, added that it is regrettable that Nigerians cannot afford to celebrate Christmas and New Year after working continuously for 365 days.
Olawale, while praising Nigerians for their patience and resilience in the face of adversity and poverty, urged President Bola Tinubu to remember the poor, mitigate the impacts of fuel subsidy reduction, and address inflation as a threat.
According to Olawale, it is time for the government at all levels to step up and fix the inflation problem so that Nigerians can live as they should.