Restrictions of movements over the coronavirus
pandemic has led to shortage of staple foods and rising prices in Yenagoa, the
Bayelsa capital.
The affected items include, sachet water which
the residents depend on due to absence of potable water, grains and food
condiments amongst others.
A market survey at rural and urban markets in
Bayelsa at the weekend showed over 100 per cent increase in the prices of
Garri, Yam, Tomatoes and other food items following measures put in place to
check the spread of COVID-19.
Checks at Okordia-Zarama, a rural market and
Swali market in the urban area of the state capital showed that a four-litre
plastic container measure of garri which sold for N600 few days before the
restrictions, now sells for N1,500.
For sachet water packaged in bags of 20 pieces
which sold for N100, same now goes for N150 as dealers said the lockdown had
held down supplies from neighbouring states.
Mrs Obiageli Nwafor, a housewife said that the
quantity of tomatoes she usually buys at N300 now goes for N800 on Saturday due
to the lockdown announce by both Rivers and Bayelsa governments.
She said that iced fish, meat, vegetables and
other edible items were not left out of the upward swing in prices.
“The restrictions announced by the government
which effectively closed interstate borders between Rivers and Bayelsa has
caused scarcity of food in the markets as traders run out of stock.
“The traders source a lot of things consumed
in Bayelsa from neigbouring states and the directive to halt inter-state
travels has affected food prices and traders are capitalizing on it by
exploiting the people,” Nwafor said.
She noted that the preventive measures were
necessary to discourage unnecessary travels amongst the people but advised
Bayelsa government to take a closer look at the directive to allow vehicles to
bring in food.
According to her, although Bayelsa had not
recorded any incident, the confirmed infection in Port Harcourt, the Rivers
capital on Thursday, was a source of concern.
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