By Our Reporter

Residents of Nasarawa State have raised concerns over the continued high cost of essential food items, especially bread, despite a significant drop in the prices of raw materials such as flour and sugar. Many are now calling on the government to intervene and protect citizens from what they describe as exploitation by marketers and traders.

A market survey carried out by Nasarawa Eye indicated that before a bag of flour was selling for ₦80,000, resulting in the price of a small loaf of bread rising to ₦400. However, even after the price of flour recently dropped to ₦60,000 — a reduction of ₦20,000 — the cost of bread has remained unchanged.

Similarly, sugar prices have dropped from ₦90,000 to ₦70,000 per bag, but the price of a standard measure of sugar, previously ₦2,500, has not decreased.

“We don’t understand why the prices of finished goods remain the same when the cost of raw materials has gone down,” said Hauwa Mohammed, a resident of Lafia. “We are suffering, and it feels like the traders are taking advantage of the situation.”

The continued high cost of basic food items is putting pressure on household budgets, especially in a state where many rely on daily income to feed their families.

Civic groups and concerned individuals are urging the government to regulate the pricing mechanisms in the market and ensure that the benefits of falling production costs are passed down to consumers.

“We are appealing to the government to step in and check this exploitation,” said Ibrahim Musa, a local Capinter. “Something must be done to bring relief to the people.”

As economic hardship continues to bite, residents say immediate action is needed to curb profiteering and restore fairness to the marketplace.