By Emeka Alex Duru
Whether the current lockdown in some states is eventually relaxed or measured restrictions imposed, the country is already faced with looming food/drug crisis. Signs of the uncertain days began to unfold when statistics from Lagos and other states indicated unprecedented rise in the prices of drugs and staple food items in the first two weeks of the Covid-19-induced lockdown.
The extension of the restrictions by another two weeks and the supermarkets and pharmaceutical shops running out of stock, added to the fears of scarcity and higher prices.
In his March 29 nationwide address announcing restriction of movements and activities on Lagos, Ogun and the Federal Capital Territory, President Muhammadu Buhari, had exempted hospitals, related medical establishments , food processing, distribution and retail companies from the order. The President re-emphasised the directives in his April 13 address extending the lockdown.
But with most of the drugs and pharmaceutical products consumed in the country imported as well as unscrupulous security agents and hoodlums posing obstacle to the food supply and distribution, the benefits of the exemption order on these sectors, are not being felt.
For example, reports from major markets in Lagos, indicate sharp rises in the prices of basic food items, in some cases, between 50 to 100 percent. At the popular Mile 12 Market, a basket of Tomatoes, now sells as high as N7,500, N8,000, N10,000, against the previous price ranges of N3,500, N5,000 and N7,000, depending on the sizes. This represents an upsurge of up to 50 to 100 percent in prices. In Iyana Iba Market, Ojo Local Government Area, a Paint Bucket of Garri, that sold for between N500 and N600, has gone up to N1,000 and N1,100, posing a 100 percent price hike. A Kilogramme of Fish that was bought at N800, is now going for N1,000. The same volume of Chicken that was sold for N1,200, now costs N1,500, representing a 20 percent increase. A 50kg bag of local Rice at Ijedodo Market which sold for N17,000 and N21,000, now goes for N19,500 and N23,000. Prices of other products have equally gone up.
The pharmaceutical sector is not different. Basic items as hand gloves needed at the moment are scarce and when seen, very expensive. The price is now N600 from the previous N60 a pair. Vitamin C Tablets and other drugs for boosting the immune system against Coronavirus disease, are virtually out of stock in most supermarkets and pharmaceutical shops. Chances of restocking the shelves in the nearest future, are remote, as countries from where they are imported, have closed their airspaces in their efforts to contain the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic.
Traders complain of harassment by hoodlums and extortion by unpatriotic security personnel at various points of the supply chain, forcing the prices to rise. A Rice merchant, Chinenye Ibeh, recalled the stress he and his colleagues go through in getting their consignments to the consumers. According to him, passage at every security post from Ebonyi, Kebbi or Niger, where their supplies come from to the destinations, attracts various fees. These fees are in turn, built into the cost of the commodities, hence the high prices. “It is just that we have to remain in business. We are no longer making any gains in it. What we pay to security men and hoodlums on the road before getting the goods to the market is much. At every security post from Abakiliki, Ebonyi State where my major supplies come from, I pay a minimum of N1000 to security men. If you calculate the number of security posts we pass before getting to Lagos, you can then understand what I mean”, he told our reporter.
Iyorger John, who sources his Yams from Gboko, Benue State, corroborated the story. He added that the traders are not happy with the rising cost of the food stuffs as the trend is affecting their sales.
The result of harassment and extortion on traders by hoodlums and law enforcement agents is scarcity and high prices of items. Concerned Nigerians call for urgent government intervention to avert the impending crisis that may arise if the situation is not checked. Food vendors and pharmaceutical operatives, they argue, should be allowed easy passage as ordered by the President, adding that they should be encouraged to replenish to avoid running out of stock. The importance of food and pharmaceutical products on good health cannot be over emphasised. They are critical to the health and survival of any nation.
Yetunde Omojola complained that the rising prices of goods are affecting the quantity she buys. “A piece of yam we used to buy for N300 is now going for N5000. The most I do these days is to reduce the quantity that I used to buy. It is not easy for the families”, she lamented.
Angela Ogwu who deals on Tomatoes at Agboju, FESTAC Second Gate market, Lagos, complained that because of the high prices of the commodities, they are facing low patronages and consequent waste as there are no storage facilities for the perishable goods. The complaint of those in the supermarkets and pharmaceuticals is more on products being out of stock as a result of their inability to replenish. “There is nothing we can do. We cannot restock. Most of our products are imported. We must wait till companies that we import from resume production in their various countries”, Henrietta Ike, a pharmacist told our reporter.
The Covid-19 experience and its emergencies have exposed the shortcomings of Nigeria’s health sector. Almost 60 years of the country’s independence, most of its pharmaceutical products are imported. This is not encouraging. The price hike, coming when the money in the system is not much, poses another challenge. Banks have not been working optimally since the lockdown.
Government should therefore ensure that food distribution channels are open and the supply chains, not interrupted by creating conducive environment for those in the business, analysts insist.