Ramadan in Nigeria: Irish potatoes, yam beyond reach of Maiduguri residents

With the alarming cost of yam, Irish potatoes and fruits in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, residents are forced to consider other alternatives to break their fast in this Ramadan period. While sellers mostly complain of hard times due to a significant drop in their daily sales, buyers decry high prices that exceed their purchasing power, worsening their economic situation. At different places visited, prices of yam, Irish potatoes, water melon, oranges, apples, pineapples and other fruits have almost tripled. Modu Maudu, a potato buyer at Yan-nono market, complained bitterly about the hike in price. “A measure of potatoes I bought N2,000 days back now costs N3,500, and the quantity won’t be enough to feed me and my little ones. So, I was forced to buy rice and cook to break the fast, but it wasn’t as satisfying as Irish potatoes,” he said. Malama Aisha, another customer that patronizes the Post Office area to buy yam said that despite continued appeals to traders to reduce ...