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Housewives face hard times as food prices hit the roof

Amidst the unprecedented high exchange rate of the dollar to naira, currency devaluation and inflation threatening the Nigerian economy, housewives admit the situation is getting out of hand.

ENCOMIUM Weekly asked some of them how they are coping with the hard times.

MRS. OLOLADE ADEBAYO

How have you been coping with the recent rise in prices of foodstuff?

We are managing.

What do you think is responsible for the hike?

The economic situation of the country, the rise in the dollar and other things.

How much do you think a family needs to survive in a month?

At least N40,000.

MRS. IBIAM

How have you been coping with the recent rise in prices of foodstuff?

I am managing. I only buy what the available fund could afford.

What do you think is responsible for the hike?

Lack of money in the country due to the violent political climate, the elections.

How much do you think a family needs to survive in a month?

N70,000 a month for a family of five and few guests.

MRS. FATOKUN

How have you been coping with the recent rise in prices of foodstuff?

There is inflation due to the high exchange rate of the dollar but we’re coping. You have to reduce what you buy monthly.

What do you think is responsible for the hike?

The oil price fluctuation in the international market, dollar rate and Nigeria is an importing nation.

How much do you think a family needs to survive in a month?

Depending on the size of the family. Averagely a family of four, five, six, could manage on N30,000 or 40,000 depending on what you buy. Some families are into foreign good, whereas some don’t, they prefer Nigerian products.

MRS. ROTIMI

How have you been coping with the recent rise in prices of foodstuff?

We thank God we still get money, we are surviving. What everybody is saying is that the price of dollar is high. We have no choice, we have to survive with what we have.

What do you think is responsible for the hike?

High rate of exchange of the dollar.

How much do you think a family needs to survive in a month?

It depends on the size of the family, the size of the family determines what you buy.

MRS. ADEDEJI

How have you been coping with the recent rise in prices of foodstuff?

We thank God, though it has not been easy.

What do you think is responsible for the hike?

Dollar.

How much do you think a family needs to survive in a month?

I have a family of three, we spend up to N40,000 monthly but for others, it depends on what they eat.

MRS. BLESSING OYEDELE

How have you been coping with the recent rise in prices of foodstuff?

The prices are high. We buy less than before. We thank God we are coping with the situation of the country.

What do you think is responsible for the hike?

Increase in exchange of the dollar, elections. Ever since they started the preparations of elections, there has been inadequate circulation of money in the country.

How much do you think a family needs to survive in a month?

At lease N40,000 or N50,000 monthly compared to when we spent N25,000 to N30,000 monthly.

MRS STELLA ENYIOCHA

How have you been coping with the recent rise in prices of foodstuff?

Everyone is feeling the price hike. No doubt, one has to adjust or cope.

Personally, nothing has changed as per the quality of food. But I slashed personal expenditure and frivolous spending

What do you think is responsible?

A lot of factors. First, the insufficient food production on the part of farmers. Even if there was, transportation is key, bad roads and the risks involved. Insecurity caused by insurgents. The North (Nigeria’s number one perishable food suppliers) is in shambles, we all know the story.

How much do you think a family needs to survive in a month?

It all depends on the number of people in the family, their income and so on. What is important is to plan according to what you can afford.

MRS. LARA JOEL

How have you been coping with the recent rise in prices of foodstuff?

The rise in the cost of food stuff in the market has affected so many families. These days, people no longer go for the balanced diet but what will go round and satisfy the family.

What do you think is responsible?

I think the forthcoming elections may be responsible for this because there is inadequate money in circulation.

How much do you think a family needs to survive in a month?

I think N50,000 should be enough for a family of four.

MRS JUMOKE ONYILO

How have you been coping with the recent rise in prices of foodstuff?

The rate at which prices of food stuff are going up is really alarming. No amount is sufficient any more, Nigerians are just devising different means of coping.

We just have to cope, we have no choice. We buy the little we can afford, cut down our expenses.

What do you think is responsible?

A lot of factors, from insurgency in the north, rise in the exchange rate of the dollar, though, not on all goods any way. The recent hike in petrol price, we are still feeling the effect. The forthcoming elections and so on.

How much do you think a family needs to survive in a month?

It depends on each family’s capacity really and the number of people in the family. For me, I will say N40,000 per month.

CHRISTIANA AMODENI

How have you been coping with the recent rise in prices of foodstuff?

I have been coping very well but I must say it has not been easy. The increase in the prices of foodstuff is not encouraging at all, it has cost me so much. Right now, I have had to stop one of my staff because I cannot afford to pay all the expenses.

What do you think is responsible?

I feel the government has something to do about this increase. Although it’s not 100 percent their fault I’m sure they can do something about the high dollar rate. It is really getting out of hand.

How much do you think a family needs to survive in a month?

I think an average family needs nothing less than N50,000 to feed themselves monthly. That is outside the expense of school fees and other household expenses.

FUNMI OGUNBADEJO

How have you been coping with the recent rise in prices of foodstuff?

We have no choice but to cope. This will teach everyone to cut their coat according to their cloth. It has drastically affected our purchasing power and this will also reduce the way foodstuffs are wasted. Your budget now determines how much you can purchase. You just have to set your priorities right.

What do you think is responsible?

I think our government is not getting it right. In the past, they were used to wastage. They are just spending the money the way they see it and right now, they have almost finished the money in our reserve. The rise in dollar is really affecting importers. Also, the elections are a contributing factor because of the fear of the unknown.

How much do you think a family needs to survive in a month?

When you talk about family, it depends on how big the family is. For a family of four, you have to do your checks and balances such as, school fees and all that but on the average, they need a minimum of N50,000 and for the low class, N30,000. Although they still do all sorts of menial jobs to put food on the table by sending their kids to hawk because there is no provision by the government.

LARA OLUBO

How have you been coping with the recent rise in prices of foodstuff?

It’s not been easy. Honestly, I can’t just imagine the dollar could get so high. Things are just too expensive.

What do you think is responsible?

I really can’t say what is responsible for it. I don’t want to huge point accusing finger at no one, I just want all these to be better.

How much do you think a family needs to survive in a month?

Before I would say N50,000 should be enough but now, it’s double. Things are just too expensive.

MERCY BENJMAIN

How have you been coping with the recent rise in prices of foodstuff?

I have been coping with my family because we have God. Since everybody is complaining of the rise in dollar, there is nothing we can do about it. We buy everything at the prices they tell us. I used to buy N2,000 meat but now, it is N3,000. It’s not even enough for one week. Everything has increased.

What do you think is responsible?

The rise in dollar is responsible for the increase in food items and other things in the market.

How much do you think a family needs to survive in a month?

I can’t really estimate, but I know it’s much.

GIFT NWAWURU

How have you been coping with the recent rise in prices of foodstuff?

It has really been tough. The price of everything has changed. When you go the market, things that used to be N2,000 is now N2,500. It’s not been easy with us, but there’s nothing we can do about it as we still buy to feed our family.

What do you think is responsible?

What I think is responsible for the increase in all prices of commodities is the rise in dollar. It has really affected the market women a lot.

How much do you think a family needs to survive in a month?

Before now, I used to spend N10,000 on feeding, now it’s N15,000.

MRS. IMAOBONG SAMUEL

How have you been coping with the recent rise in prices of foodstuff?

When there’s life, there’s hope. There is nothing I can do. I have to try as a wife and a mother to sustain my family. Like yesterday, I went to the market to buy some food items, I had to beg the market women to sell at the normal price.

Even meat I used to buy for N2,000, I bought it at N3,500. Everything has increased. I want the government to do something about it because we’re suffering. But no matter how hard, my husband and children will still survive because God is with us.

What do you think is responsible for the hike?

Everybody knows that the dollar has increased in exchange rate. I think that is the reason every commodity has increased. It seems the government is doing nothing about it. They are focused on elections.

How much do you think a family needs to survive in a month?

I can’t really say for now because if I start calculating what I’ve spent already on food and then calculate how much I need to spend in a month, I think it will be much.

Encomium

Written by Encomium

A media, tech and events company.

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