As Christians stepped up preparations for the Easter celebrations tomorrow, prices of food items and transport fares in some Nigerian cities and towns have remained stable.
In several of the markets and motor parks visited by our correspondents, there were no significant increases in the prices of the items and fares on interstate routes.
A visit by our correspondent to the Sabon Gari Market in Kano showed that the prices of food items were stable as a good number of Christians thronged the facility.
For instance, two litres of vegetable oil cost about N8,000; a bottle (750g) of vegetable oil cost about N2,300; the price of an average chicken ranged between N8,000 and N10,000 while a mudu (local measurement) of rice (approximately 2kg) was N5,000 while a four litre container (commonly called plastic/ rubber paint size) of tomatoes was between N3,000 and N5,000.
A resident, Mrs Blessing John, told LEADERSHIP Weekend that although most workers were yet to receive their April salaries, it won’t deter them from celebrating in a little way with their families.
“Though I’m expecting my salary next week, I have booked for one chicken to celebrate with my two kids because my husband has travelled,” she said.
While thanking God for the season, she said the inflation in the market is not like what was experienced during the 2024 Christmas season where prices of goods skyrocketed.
Similarly, during a visit to the Bell Transport Motor Park at Ungwan Uku, the branch union chairman, Munsir Bello, said the park had been experiencing a large turnout of passengers in the last few days but had been limited by bus availability to meet demands. He lamented that many of their buses were in the southern part of the country without many passengers to bring back.
He explained that as of Thursday evening, three hummer buses left for Port Harcourt, two to Benin, two to Makurdi, one to Onitsha and one to Warri (Delta State).
He however noted that the transportation fare ranges between N28,000 and N30,000, a fare that has not changed despite the season and influx of passengers.
Also, at the Kano Line Motor Park, the transportation fare remained stable as passengers travelling to Kaduna paid N6,000 while those heading to Jos and Bauchi paid between N8,000 and N10,000.
In Makurdi, the Benue State capital, most markets which used to be a beehive of activities were not crowded as traders lamented low patronage of food items and other goods.
In the same manner, the motor parks had only a handful of passengers.
When our correspondent visited some of the transport terminals such as Duku Park, Pleasure Travels, London Line, most of the passengers said they were not traveling because of the Easter celebration but on routine trips.
However, at Benue Links, passengers trooped in and out of the park.
A passenger, Magdalene Oryina, who said she was going to Gboko, said she prefers to travel with Benue Links because of its price difference from the private commercial vehicles which sometimes charge double fares.
The private motor parks were the worst hit due to their high fares. At the time of our correspondent’s visit, only a few passengers were on ground.
During a visit to Wadata, High Level, Wurukum and North Bank markets, the prices of food items had gone down due to the recent federal government’s efforts to cut the prices of agricultural commodities.
There were however few buyers.
At High Level Market, a butcher, Alhaji Sani Musa, said he used to slaught three to five cows during an Easter period but this year, he killed only one due to low demands.
For Theresa, a mother of four, she was in the market to buy things needed for school by her children.
Faithful Observe Good Friday, Police, NSCDC Beef Up Security
Meanwhile, Christians worldwide yesterday marked Good Friday, a day of profound significance in the Christian calendar. Observed during Holy Week, Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his sacrificial death, a pivotal event that symbolises redemption and hope.
In congregations throughout the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), faithful gathered for services filled with somber reflection and reverence.
Churches were adorned minimally, often with purple cloths a colour associated with mourning.
Many services began in the afternoon, aligning with the time of Christ’s crucifixion, and lasted for several hours as worshippers engaged in prayer, scripture reading and meditation.
The congregants participated in reflective practices, with some choosing to fast or abstain from certain foods as a form of penance, embodying the spirit of sacrifice that the day signifies.
Additionally, a number of churches organised quiet moments of prayer and meditation, allowing congregants to connect personally with the gravity of the day.
Numerous congregations held candlelight vigils, symbolising the light of Christ piercing through the darkness of sin and death.
During these gatherings, participants reflected on the significance of Jesus’s death and the hope of resurrection that follows on Easter Sunday.
Pastor Grace Okon of the Redeemed Christian Church of God said, “Good Friday is a reminder of the trials that lead to triumph. It teaches us that even in our darkest moments, there is hope for a brighter tomorrow.”
The crucifixion has been a focal point for sermons and discussions, centering on themes of forgiveness and love.
Many leaders emphasised that Good Friday should not only be seen as a day of mourning but also as an opportunity for spiritual renewal.
“By reflecting on Christ’s sacrifice, we are called to extend love and forgiveness to others,” Rev Peter Enahoro said during a service at a local Pentecostal church in Bwari area council.
As the day came to a close, Christians left their places of worship with heavy hearts but also with a renewed commitment to embodying Christ’s teachings of love and sacrifice.
Good Friday serves not only as a remembrance of Christ’s suffering but as a call to action for Christians to live out their faith in their daily lives. In this way, the observance of Good Friday unfurls into the celebration of Easter, where the promise of resurrection and eternal life awaits.
In a related development, the Kwara State Police Command and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have put in place measures to ensure a hitch-free Easter celebration tomorrow.
The NSCDC has deployed 2,680 personnel across the state to ensure a secured environment for residents before, during and after the festivities.
The state commandant of NSCDC, Dr Umar Mohammed, in a statement signed by the Corps spokesman, Michael Shola, said that the command has put in place robust security arrangements to prevent any breach of peace during the festive period.
“Officers and men have been strategically deployed to provide adequate coverage at churches, relaxation centres, critical infrastructure and other public spaces across the state,” he said.
Umar noted that surveillance and patrol operations have been intensified in both urban and rural communities, with tactical units and rapid response squads placed on standby to swiftly address any emerging threat.
He called on members of the public to remain vigilant, be law-abiding and cooperate with security agencies by reporting any suspicious activity.
Similarly, the state commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo extended warm greetings to Christian faithful in the state, enjoining residents to mark the season with reflection, peace and gratitude for the redemptive sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
Ojo, in a statement signed by the command’s spokesperson, Toun Ejire-Adeyemi, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to public safety through the strategic deployment of intelligence and operational assets.
He said he has directed Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers and Tactical Unit Heads to intensify visibility policing, enhance patrol operations and sustain surveillance across all flashpoints and public gathering areas across the state.
He emphasised the importance of intelligence-led policing, instructing supervisory officers to prioritise credible intelligence gathering and crime-prevention measures.
Ojo warned that lapses in security coverage would attract command-level accountability, underscoring the need for proactive and responsive policing.
He urged residents to remain law-abiding, security-conscious and cooperative with law enforcement agencies.
Similarly, the Delta State Police Command has deployed officers in the command to prevent and counter crimes during the Easter holiday period and beyond in the state.
The command drew up additional deployments from the Department of Operations, Tactical teams which include Dragon Patrol, RRS, Raiders Squad, Safe Delta, Safer Highway Patrol, Eagle-Net Special Squad and Crack Squad personnel who will also be deployed to worship and resort centres.
The Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Abaniwonda Olufemi, directed all Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers and Commanders of the various Tactical Teams in the command to heighten their visibility across the state.
The CP noted that the police would focus on special crime awareness and prevention operations as well as targeting crimes found to be common during the celebration.
He further advised the public to be alert, law-abiding and also actively instrumental to the policing of their environment and aid the police in the fight against criminality during the Easter period.
Olufemi noted that the command would be tightening its crime-fighting efforts during the Easter period and beyond, “hence, all officers will be out in full force working closely with other sister security agencies to ensure the safety of the good and peace-loving residents of the state.”
In a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Delta Command, SP Bright Edafe, the command assured Deltans of their readiness to ensure a hitch-free Easter celebration.
Also, the Kogi State Commissioner of Police, CP Miller Dantawaye, has assured residents of the state that robust security measures have been put in place to ensure a peaceful and crime-free Easter season.
Dantawaye who gave the assurance while addressing senior officers of the command at the State Police Headquarters in Lokoja, also felicitated with Christian faithful on the occasion of Easter celebrations.
He directed all Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers, and Operational Commanders to reassess their security strategies and intensify Police visibility across major public spaces to guarantee the safety of residents during the festive period.
According to the Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, SP William Ovye Aya, the commissioner also emphasised the importance of collaboration with other security agencies, stating that joint efforts would be enhanced to maintain law and order throughout the Easter festivities.
He called on law-abiding citizens to support the Police by remaining vigilant and reporting any suspicious activities, as collective efforts remain key to curbing crimes.
“As it is now, every parent has become more financially prudent because if you use the little you have for Easter merriment and school resumes and you begin to go cap in hand begging, it will make no sense. So, whatever we have, we will use it for the Easter, bearing in mind that school resumption is at the corner,” she said.
A trader at Modern Market who sells rice and beans, Abuchi Okonkwo, said for almost two weeks, he struggled to sell two bags of rice he bought two months ago due to the reduction of the price of a 50kg bag to N40,000 by the federal government.
At Wadata Market, a 50kg bag of local rice sells for between N26,000 and N29,000, significantly lower than the N45,000 to N55,000 it cost six months ago. Similarly, at Modern Market, the price of a mudu (local measurement) of rice has dropped from N2,700 to N1,800.
Other staples have also seen price reductions as a big basket of tomatoes, previously sold for N45,000, now costs between N30,000 and N35,000. The price of a mudu of maize, millet and guinea corn has fallen from N3,200 to N1,200.
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