EASTER CELEBRATION: Inflation, fuel scarcity humble Nigerians
Millions of Christians across the country threw the biting inflation and fuel scarcity aside to attend Church services on Good Friday to commemorate the Easter week. Activities had started from Thursday among Catholic faithfuls who observed the Christ’s washing of the feet of His disciples ceremony across the nation.
In the usual spirit of the season, the Federal Government lifted the spirit of the season by declaring Friday 25th and Monday 28th March (today) as public holidays to mark the Easter.
Not to be outdone, the Lagos State Government offered free bus rides for Nigerians along the corridors of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and the Bus Franchise Scheme (BFS) to commemorate the Easter celebration.
Acting managing director of Lagos Metropolitan Area and Transport Authority (LAMATA), Mr. Iyoola Adegboye explained that the free bus service on selected routes is part of the government’s efforts to help commuters move around with ease in the face of the current fuel scarcity.
Goodwill messages
Meanwhile, goodwill messages poured in from some governors in the Southeast and Southwestern Nigerian in their Easter messages to Nigerians.
The embattled Rivers state governor, Nyesom Wike in his message to Nigerians advised Christians across the country to inculcate the virtues of peace, love and sacrifice and forgiveness during the Easter celebrations.
Nyesom Wike wants his people to use the occasion of the period to pray for peace and sustainable development and to ensure that Rivers people, along with his administration will continue to work in conjunction with security agencies towards the promotion of peace and security across the state.
Gov. Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti state advised Nigerians to learn from Jesus Christ who used His power and position to serve and comfort others. The Governor also charged Nigerians to stand for the truth at all times and be ready to defend it.
Meanwhile the nationwide fuel scarcity took its toll as the Easter celebration continued through the weekend. The situation became worse as many Nigerians spent quality hours of Good Friday and Saturday at the filling stations struggling to buy fuel. Reports from across the country say those stations selling the scarce commodity had long queue of vehicles with many motorists spending the night the filling stations.
In Lagos state the situation remained the same as some residents told our correspondent the current state of the country has affected the celebration of Easter.
Innocent Mathias of our features desk who toured the local markets from Thursday through the Easter Sunday reported that prices of commodities had not celebrated with average Nigerian families.
“Inflation has humbled people like us; I used to be ranked as ‘middle class’ citizen before, but now…..” Martins Onyebuchi, a trader at the Oke-Arin market in Lagos let the statement hang.
Report of a market survey conducted by our correspondents revealed that the prices of gas, car tyres, and household accessories have increased further, beyond the reach of the average Nigerian.
Some other commodities that have witnessed noticeable increases include rice, chicken, beef, tomatoes, groundnut oil, palm oil, pepper, yams, onions, weave-on, clothing, shoes, potatoes, etc.
At the major Ikeja market, a kilogram of gas which initially sold for between N230 and N240 now costs N320 and N330. While a carton of chicken previously sold for N6,500 and N7,000 now goes for N8,000.
Also, a rubber paint of garri which initially sold for between N250 and N300 now costs N450 and N500, depending on the brand.
Some of the traders attributed the price increase to continuous rise in dollar exchange rate which has nothing to do with the Easter season.
Mr. Stanley Chukwuka, a supermarket owner who has been in the business over a decade observed that the low profile shopping has nothing to do with the Lenten season.
“This year has been a very turbulent year in terms of sales; the profit margin has drastically reduced and purchasing power is very low because there’s no money, yet prices of commodities have soared out of our reach.”
Also Mr. Anthony Onyejekwe, a car tyre retailer for 33yrs on said even before the Lenten season, business has not been too good. “Even if you sell the ones you have now, you cannot go to the market to buy another because majority of the importers are no longer importing due to the crazy exchange rate.
“And even if they struggle to import, they will have no other option that to inflate the price of their goods which some of us retailers may not even afford to buy because if we do, some of our customers may end up not buying at all.”
There’s nothing like comparison because things were a bit better last year. We were expecting the change to make things better, but here we are: no money, no petrol, no nothing.”
Peace Mbuko reporting from Lagos Mainland observed that the usual pomp and colours that signify Easter in the buoyant economic days were evident over the weekend though watered down by dispirited shoppers who were strung between foods to eat and fuel to run their domestic and business homes.
“It is a difficult period; we never had it this bad,” Obinna Chidube, a trader at a major Ojodu market told our correspondent. He had observed his doctrinal responsibility by being part of the crucifix outreach on Friday but spent the whole of Saturday searching for fuel like he was looking for blood to save a life.
“If I got the petrol I would have been a little comforted but I didn’t. See, there are not much people in the market and things are so dry. We are not seeing any sign of Easter celebration in the market unlike back then when sales would have built up even days before the Good Friday,” he said wistfully.
Mr. Ernest Iwu, a trader along Budland road, Ojodu has a more patriotic and optimistic view of the Nigerian situation. “I’ve been into business since 1997 and I can tell you prices of goods used to be very reasonable and affordable. Now, high cost of basic commodities has reduced the number of shoppers to the minimum. Many shoppers end up window shopping because prices have soared up.”
Ernest, who deals in children, ladies clothes and leather works said of inflation, “Inspite of inflation, I still sell at normal price and I will like to plead with Nigerians because I believe we are the cause of this problem.
“Let us leave government alone and be content with what we have, let us sell our goods at the normal price and we will see Nigeria changing for better.”
Mrs. Destiny Azubike, a salaried worker said she decided to celebrate the Easter on low key because “both my husband and I have not been paid our salaries, and the children are coming home from boarding house for the Easter break.”
At the Heritage Garden, Oshodi in Lagos many families did take their children there to catch fun. “The children won’t understand if you refuse to take them out, so I had to bring them, but we have to agree that we will eat and drink only the foods we bring with us: no ice cream, cream crackers and no chocolates.”
“This year’s Easter hold a special meaning to me,” Mrs. Abigail Amata told The Daily Times. “I have to thank God specially for keeping me alive when I recall the thousands of people killed by insurgents, those killed in collapsed buildings, road accidents, water boat accidents or those who just sleep and ddin’t wake up again. I thank God that I am not counted among the dead; 2015 and this first quarter of 2016 have taken lots of lives. I must thank God we are alive.
“Christ is alive and that’s what I am celebrating; the economic situation, bomb blasts and bad news did not affect nor worry me because I know my Redeemer liveth.
“There is no way we can enjoy the Easter without fuel especially when we no longer see power to run our homes and businesses. Even if there’s no chicken, at least there is fish.”
Travelers refrained from travelling home during the weekend das the usual crowd of Easter travelers reduced to all time low. Interstate transporter at the Ojuelegba, Chief Nze Nwoke lamented that business had never been this bad. “No matter how bad, our people used to travel a lot during Easter, but this one is different. Getting petrol to even run our motors had never been this difficult.”
“Things are very tough, how can I be talking of Easter?” asked Boniface Onyeocha. “I am an okada rider; no fuel, no business and that is a problem for me because I have to provide for my wife and five children.
“I have been here since morning trying to buy fuel but nothing is happening; everything is standing still.”
In the Lekki axis of Lagos, residents of the troubled Lekki Garden have appealed to government of Lagos state in the spirit of Easter to take a second look at the decision to seal up the property during test on the buildings. They welcome government’s plan to carry out the integrity test on buildings as that will give them double assurance on the quality of all buildings to guard the safety of lives and property.
“We have moved from just Lekki Garden to individual affair,” said a resident, Mrs. Julia Onotu. “We are occupants now and not the developers, so we want government to recognised this, putting into consideration the fact that we have worked so hard to buy these properties.”
“Government should recognise that we are home owners and residents and not Lekki Garden owners because whatever government will do to the Lekki garden management will eventually affect all of us,” another resident told The Daily Times.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation has appealed to Nigerians to be patient on the scarcity of fuel. The Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr. Garuba Deen said in a statement release on Friday that the scarcity would be curbed within the next two weeks.
Deen revealed that one petrol cargo carrying 42 million litres has discharged while two more cargoes with 44 million litres each were discharging at the time. He disclosed that another petrol cargo containing 44 million litres birthed on Friday and is awaiting discharge.
