By Ummi Ismaeel,
Minna
Residents of Niger State have decried daily increase in the cost of food stuff above the reach of the common man.
They also accused the Governor Abubarkar Sani Bello administration of not fulfilling its promises of flooding markets with the locally milled Bida Padi rice.
It would be recalled that the state government recently promised to flood the markets in the state with 35 tons of rice from the Bida Pandi rice at the cost of N7, 000 for a 50kg bag and N3, 500 for a 35kg bag.
Our correspondent, who visted some of the popular markets in Minna noted that a measure (mudu) of local rice now costs between N300 and N650 depending on the quality and source while five small tubers of yam are sold between N800 and N1, 200.
It was also gathered that other perishables such as tomatoes were simply beyond the reach of the ordinary man.
Mr. Abdulrazak Idris, an artisan who said he has a family of six, his wife and four children told our correspondent that the high cost of food stuff coupled with the harsh economic realities made it impossible for him to feed his family even at ‘one-zero-one’ equation.
Idris, who said that he was particularly worried about the situation of things in Niger State, argued that flooding the markets with local rice would bring down the cost of most staple food items and as well encourage farmers to increase their production while young graduates expected to take advantage of verse farmlands to engage in agriculture will be encouraged.
The people who are calling on the state government to keep to promises are therefore wondering why Governor Bello has failed to intervene in alleviating hunger and frustration in the state.
But the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Malam Jibrin Baba Ndace, when contacted by our correspondent, declined comments.