Officials from the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Council (FCCPC) visited the Oseokwodu food market in Onitsha to investigate the rising food prices.
According to Vanguard Newspaper, traders attributed the high costs to widespread insecurity, which has deterred farmers from cultivating and transporting crops.
Mr. Jude Akonam, the FCCPC South East coordinator, explained that the visit aimed to understand how price increases impact traders and consumers, and to relay these concerns to the government.
Mr. Onyejekwe Cyprian, Secretary of Ose Okwodu Market Traders Union, emphasized that Oseokwodu, known as the food basket of Anambra State, has seen unbearable price hikes.
He highlighted that farmers are often afraid to go to their farms or transport goods due to threats of abduction and bandit attacks.
Traders now frequently travel to rural areas to purchase goods directly from farmers, who are reluctant to transport their crops to urban markets.
This added risk and scarcity have driven up prices. Supplies of yams, grains, potatoes, and fish, which used to come thrice weekly, have dwindled due to the security threats.
Farmers often warn traders of potential supply disruptions because of bandit activity, prompting traders to raise prices on the