Date: 2016-08-03

This is not the best of time for users of charcoal in domestic cooking in Ilorin, Kwara State as price of the commodity has gone up in the market. Independent findings conducted by our correspondent across selected areas in Ilorin yesterday showed that the price of the alternative cooking material varies in the market depending on the size of the bags and the content.

A bag of charcoal hitherto sold at N1100 had witnessed astronomical increase in recent times with the bag now sold for N1200, N1400 and N1600. Investigation revealed that the latest surge in price might not be unconnected with the current inflation in the market with no end in sight. With increase in charcoal price so also other cooking alternate sources have continued to witness upsurge in price daily.

The situation had caused unpleasant moment for users of the cooking material as they expressed displeasure over the development. Beside, the dealers of the product also regretted that the government had failed to come up with policy that would drastically curb the growing hard time. A domestic user, Mrs Rita Akanbi, told City Rove in Ilorin that the masses were finding it uneasy with the persistent increase in the price of charcoal in the market.

She also wondered why the government had refused to subsidize the prices of some products in the market for the benefit of the downtrodden who were usually at the receiving end. Mrs Akanbi said, "It is not good that the government had maintained sealed lips on issues affecting the masses. We are not asking for too much, our concern is primarily how to cushion the hardship of the moment.

"You can imagine that for a long time now we have been confronted with the astronomical increase in the price of charcoal in the market. It is not just an increase, it has become a recurring decimal and no concrete measure had been put in place to address this growing problem. "If the government is serious about our plight, something ought to have been done. They (government) are not unaware of our problem, but they have refused to act anytime we have a problem like this".

Another user who simply identified herself as Miss Titilayo, said the reality of the moment was no longer bearable for the people. She noted that as a domestic user of charcoal, buying a bag of charcoal for N1400 and N1600 respectively was on the high side and not sustainable for low income earners.

A charcoal dealer, Iya Better said the increase in price had aggravated the situation masses were passing through. "The federal government has not lived up to the expectations of Nigeria. If something is not done quickly to bring the price of charcoal down, people will continue to groan in pain", she said.