Sallah: Mokwa bridge collapse fuels tomato, pepper price surge

Less than 48 hours to Eid-el-Kabir, the prices of tomatoes, peppers, onions, and other perishables have suddenly soared in the aftermath of the collapse of the Mokwa Bridge in Niger State, which left hundreds of trucks conveying food items trapped.

Market sources say the price surge is as a result of the failed bridge and the Sallah celebrations, which begin on Saturday.

The bridge, a strategic gateway used by trucks conveying foodstuffs, livestock and other produce from the North to the southern parts of the country, was destroyed by last Thursday’s devastating flood, which killed over 200 people with hundreds of others unaccounted for.

The development has sparked anxiety over the disruption to the food supply chain as the Muslim faithful celebrate the Eid on Friday.

Also, the dealers in perishable foodstuffs, whose goods were stranded at the failed bridge, have lamented the unfortunate situation and the impact on their businesses, fearing huge financial losses.

Speaking  on Wednesday, the National President of the National Onion Producers Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Isa Aliyu, confirmed that trucks conveying onions to the South-West were trapped in Mokwa town.

At least 15 trucks loaded with tomatoes and pepper from Kebbi State are also marooned in Mokwa, the state Chairman, Tomatoes Traders Association, Alhaji Umarun Basiru,

to imarun bay

Fifteen trucks conveying perishable items worth N250m are stuck in transit,” he said.

He explained that the development has “added salt to injury”, leading to an increase in the already high prices of perishable items.

Aminu Aliyu, a dealer based in Bauchi, explained that the trucks stuck in Mokwa were mostly conveying foodstuffs to the South.

He pointed out that the situation would compound the high cost of the commodities in the market.

“Definitely, the development will cause an increase in the prices of foodstuffs. It will worsen the already bad situation of the poor masses. Whenever foodstuffs are stranded, it leads to scarcity and higher prices,’’ he intoned.

“The bigger worry is that these commodities are perishables with a very short storage life span. If you now consider this situation with the preparations of our several Muslim brothers and sisters for the Sallah holidays, that will involve heavy cooking and compulsory use of these commodities, then you will better understand our fears.

“Unfortunately, the market forces are clear: the higher the demand, the higher the prices.”

A major tomato and pepper farmer in Gombe, Garba Yusuf, noted, “Usually, we take our produce to Kano, Niger, Abuja and Lagos but now the vehicles are stranded there waiting for alternative routes.

“Surely, it has negative implications because this is the big Sallah; people will cook food, and we are talking about millions of naira. Some commodities would be damaged before they get to their destination.”

The Chairman, Sokoto State Association of Foodstuffs Sellers, Alhaji Murtala Bawa, disclosed that his union had yet to compute the losses resulting from the Mokwa incident, saying the body was currently receiving reports from the affected members.

“We can’t give the figures, we are currently collating the reports from our members. One thing I can tell you is that we have lost perishable goods worth millions of naira due to the current situation of things in Mokwa.”

Similarly, tomato, pepper and onion sellers in Nasarawa State bemoaned the increasing prices of the commodities, urging the government to intervene.

One of our correspondents, who visited the Main Market and Kasuwa Tomatoes Market in Lafia, the state capital, on Tuesday,  observed a sharp increase in the prices of the items.

Findings show that a basket of tomatoes now sells for between N20,000 and N25,000, depending on the quality.

The Secretary of the Kasuwa Tomatoes Market, Ibrahim Muhammad, appealed to the Federal Government for assistance.

“We heard that vehicles are currently not passing through Mokwa in Niger State due to the flooding. From the information I have, this is a major reason why the prices of food items went up, because most truck drivers are held up there.

“The Federal Government should collaborate with the Niger State Government to address the issue. People were complaining of hardship before now. Most of them cannot afford three square meals, so you can imagine how they will be feeling now that the prices of food items have gone up again. The government should help us out of the situation,” he begged.

Checks at the Mandate and Ipata Markets in Ilorin, Kwara State, revealed the widespread effect of the Mokwa incident, with food prices rising above 10 per cent or more compared to two weeks ago.

Findings showed that the price of a basket of tomatoes now ranges between N18,000, N22,000, N50,000, and N70,000, depending on the size and quality of the produce.

A trader popularly known as Iya Aisha Alata at Mandate Market, told The PUNCH that the basket of tomatoes, which sold for N40,000 a week ago, now sells for N50,000.

“The current market volatility is partly seasonal and tied to festivities. The Hausa tomato supply is gradually phasing out, and we are now selling produce sourced from the South West. This transition in supply sources is also contributing to the price variation,” she clarified.

Additionally, the price of a bag of pepper ranged from N20,000 to N22,000.

The prices, he said, were determined by the source locations, but notably from Zaria or Kano.

Rabiu expressed concern that the flooding in Mokwa would significantly impact vegetable markets in the northern region.

The okra, onion, and tomato dealer observed that the situation highlighted the challenges faced by vendors and the potential effects on the market.

The Deputy Chairman, Truck Drivers Association in Plateau State, Bulus Andrawus, said the trucks transporting the perishable goods had been stuck in Mokwa for over five days.

Andrawus stated, “Our members could not pass through due to the collapsed bridge. Many of them have been stranded for the past five days without movement.

“Some of the goats have started dying. It’s a serious situation that requires urgent intervention by the government. The truck drivers and owners are calling on the government to take immediate action to address the situation.”

Down south, the situation is not different.

In Akwa Ibom, the people are also feeling the pains of the hike in the prices of tomatoes, peppers and onions.

A market survey  in Uyo revealed that there was a sharp increase in the prices of these items, different from what obtained last week.

A food vendor in Benin City, the Edo State capital, Mama Osawese, said she bought a bunch of vegetables, which sold for N400, for N1000 on Wednesday at the New Benin Market.

At Aduwawa Market, Mallam Haruna, who sells tomatoes and peppers, said prices of both produce went up because fewer trucks brought them to Edo from the North this week.

In Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, perishables recorded a slight increase in prices.

A trader, Yusuf Yahaya, at the Swali Ultra-Modern Market, attributed the development to the Sallah celebration.

“Yes, there has been a slight increase in the prices of peppers, tomatoes and onions, but it is not due to the collapsed bridge at Mokwa.

“The increase in the prices of foodstuffs is due to the Sallah celebrations. That route is used to supply foodstuffs to Lagos, while foodstuffs that come into Bayelsa come through another route.”

Mrs Rachael Emuesiri said that though the price increase was small, it had affected things due to the poor economy.

The increase is not much, but it has increased our burdens,” she stated.

At the popular Ogbogonogo and Oko markets, Delta State, a bucket of tomatoes presently sells for between N8,000 and N9,000 against N6,000 a week ago.

A tomato seller, Madam Uju, explained that a basket of tomatoes, which hitherto went for N35,000, depending on the size,  is now N50,000 and above.

Residents of Osogbo, Osun State, decried the sudden rise in the cost of pepper, also blaming the development on the damaged Mokwa bridge.

Speaking with The PUNCH, buyers and sellers at the Igbona, Oluode and Alekuwodo markets expressed angst over the situation.

Owolafe Amina and Risikat Oyetayo, both pepper sellers at Igbona and Oluode markets, said they could not get sufficient supplies, adding that they relied solely on the pepper cultivated in Oke Ila in Osun State since last week.

An Osogbo housewife, Madam Alice, said many of the pepper sellers were not in the market due to a lack of supply from the North, which she claimed had led to an increase in prices.

She said, “The prices of various species of pepper have increased considerably in the markets across the state. Before, we had the northerners around supplying the dealers, but today (Wednesday), you can also see that they are not in the market.

“We were told that those bringing the item could not cross Mokwa because the bridge was damaged. The pepper you have around is from farms around us here, especially from Oke Ila in Osun State. The limited supply is the cause of the price increase.”

Also, Cross River residents called on the government to immediately address the high cost of food items.

Speaking in an interview on Wednesday at the popular Watt Market in Calabar, Etim Bassey, a trader, said, “For months, we have been struggling to feed because we are finding it hard to purchase food items due to the high costs.”

“I don’t know when the prices of food items will go down for the common man to be able to feed. The government should do something about it,” he added.

Also speaking, a trader, who identified herself as Mrs Magdalene Okon, said, “Last year, I could buy a basket of onions and pepper at N,8000, but now the price is very high. How can I feed my children?”

Ekom-Abasi Nyong stated, “With my husband’s salary barely keeping pace with inflation, I often have to choose between meals and essential household items. It is a sad situation. The government should help us out. It is not funny anymore.”