A unexpected surge in tomato prices shocked residents and marketers in Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State.
When discussing the recent events at Mandate Market with our reporter, Mrs. Abdullahi Latifat claimed that the situation was too much for the family to handle.
“The smallest bowl of tomatoes cost about N300 last week, but now it costs N1,000. A large basket that once cost about N20,000 has increased to N57,000–N58,000 now.
A small basketball of tomatoes was sold for N17,000 as against N4,000 before the Eid-el-Fitr and around N10,000 during and after the Eid, according to Daily Trust.
Mrs. Arinola claimed that the’skyrocketing’ cost of the good forced her to reprioritise her spending when she visited the market.
Malam Hanas, a merchant, explained the price increase as a result of the season’s ebbing and flow and warned that things could become worse starting on Monday.
Another vendor, Mallam Surajdeen, claimed that a tiny basketball that once cost roughly N1,000 is now worth N4,000 or more.
He claimed that the predicament, over which they have no control, had hurt sales.
