The escalating cost of gari, a staple cassava flour in Nigeria, is leaving many families in Warri grappling with food insecurity. Once hailed as an affordable option, the price of this essential commodity has surged beyond the means of the average citizen.
Recent surveys conducted in major markets across Warri revealed staggering price hikes, with a 200% increase in the price of a 50kg bag of yellow gari within a few months.
Residents like Roli Olokpa of Ubeji recount the stark realities of these price hikes, noting a nearly threefold increase in the cost of a 4-litre bucket of gari over the past year.
Racheal Jilo, a gari wholesaler at Pessu Market, attributes the rising prices to economic hardships and escalating transportation costs. She highlights the daily struggles faced by both consumers and wholesalers alike, as they grapple with the consequences of these price surges.
ThankGod Ojogor, another resident of Warri, also echoes these sentiments, lamenting the exploitation of consumers by traders and urging for measures to address the affordability of essential goods like gari, as the cost of living continues to rise.
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