As the holiday season approaches, Nigerians are bracing themselves for a challenging Christmas. The economic downturn, marked by soaring prices and stagnant salaries, has left many families struggling to make ends meet.
The festive season, traditionally marked by indulgence and celebration, now feels like a test of resilience for many families facing economic hardship. Inflation, coupled with the depreciation of the naira, has driven up the prices of staple goods, making it difficult for families to maintain their traditions.
Moreover, this month, most company employees will be going home for holidays leaving the fate of Nigerians in the hands of wholesalers who have already bought these food stuffs in bulk and have stored it in their warehouses for this cause. Now, it is a fact that retailers can’t have access to the companies as usual, they will have to purchase from the wholesalers.
This is because retailers mostly don’t have the capital to buy in bulk like the wholesalers who can keep the goods in large quantities that can suffice till January, when the companies resume their activities. No wonder the prices of goods and services in the market is relatively high because when demand is high and companies don’t function as usual the available goods stored by wholesalers become expensive.
For mothers like Mrs. Johnson, who has seven mouths to feed, the looming Christmas season presents a significant source of concern. “Affording new clothes for my children, let alone the festive food and new clothing, seems like an insurmountable task,” she laments. “The price surge across the board coupled with stagnant salaries that can’t feed us in a month, making our daily survival a challenging feat, let alone the holiday season.”
To gain insight into how families, especially men who are breadwinners of a family, this reporter caught up with Mr. Emmanuel, a father of five and a civil servant. Despite his complain of the naira’s loss of value, Mr. Emmanuel remains undaunted and has devised a strategy to navigate these hard times.
“We plan to cut down our expenses this year, focusing on the necessities like food,” he said optimistically. “We will prepare a simple meal even if there is no meat we will buy crayfish to enhance the taste. Meanwhile I will ensure that my children wash and iron the available clothes they have thoroughly and I will be their hype man on that day so that they will be cheered”.
When asked about potential government interventions, Mr. Emmanuel emphasizes the need for the government to come up with a strategy of sharing food items and clothing to communities in an open area. Disbursing of such items to community leaders and other authorities will encourage manipulation and lack of fair sharing he said.
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Further insights was gathered from Mrs. Abigail, a clothing vendor, and Mr. Gabriel, a food stuffs retailer, explaining how the price surge from their suppliers has impacted their businesses. Mrs. Abigail slashed her prices, which affected her profit margins, because when she went to get more items to restock her shop the prices had gone up again. “The main reason prices are not static in the market is due to company flactuating rate daily and the cost of transporting the goods”, she said.
Mr. Gabriel in his part, faces the dilemma of balancing the prices for the customers to be able to afford the food stuffs. Meanwhile, the cost of general goods and services is dynamic and he also needs the profits to be able to provide for his family, meaning that market produce is highly affected by the general inflation in the country, for instance, if fuel pump price is increased it affects the market too.
A market survey further revealed the current prices of essential goods, indicating the financial burden families are faced with as Christmas approaches.
A major of local rice is N5,000 and the bag is between N120,000 and N150,000 based on the quality and location in Nigeria. Foreign rice is N7,500; beans N4,800 per major and the bag goes for N200,000; Turkey oil is N3,000; palm oil N2,000. A major of flour is N4,000 while the bag is N63,000; Sugar is N6,000 per major while the bag is N81,000. A crate of eggs is N6,000; Maggi seasoning is N1,400; medium size chicken N7,000, basket of tomatoes N75,000; a bag of pepper N67,000 and big pepper N70,000 while a bag of onions is N160,000.
Amidst the economic challenges, the message of hope and resilience prevails. With a spark of genuine love, compassion, and community spirit, families can still find joy and celebration during the Yuletide season, albeit on a tight budget.
As Mrs. Johnson wisely reflects, “Christmas transcends mere material possessions. It’s a time for family bonding, love, and generosity. We’ll make the most of it, irrespective of the financial constraints.”
As we celebrate this festive season, let us extend a helping hand to those in need, for even the smallest gesture of kindness can make a world of difference to someone in distress. Whether it’s a neighbor or a stranger in need, let’s make this ember month special through acts of love, compassion and solidarity. As the saying goes, “There is love in sharing”.
By: Hauwa Samuel Bah
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