Muslim faithfuls are groaning under the high cost of fruit in the market as they called for price review. According to them, the usual practice of breaking the Ramadan fast with fruits is fast becoming a luxury because of the hike in prices of fruit.
A survey by The Guardian revealed that prices of fruits have surged between 200 and 300 per cent in less than six months. For instance, a pineapple fruit, which was sold for N500 in 2024 has skyrocketed to N1,500 and N2,000.
One apple which normally goes for N200 is now N500, while a bunch of bananas which were sold between N500 and N700 last year, now go for between N1,200 and N1,300.
Similarly, one orange is sold for between N100 and N200 against N50. Speaking with The Guardian, Alhaji Idowu Aminu, lamented that many Muslims have boycotted fruits due to a hike in price and focus on filling their belly with whatever food they can afford.
He said: “We read that foodstuffs are getting cheaper, but it’s a farce. Imagine a civil servant on a N100,000 salary and needs to stock up the house; how much can N100,000 afford the person? Rice is still high, so what is left for a worker earning that amount?
“Food is essential during fasting; it’s a tradition. It’s difficult coping and it’s an issue of picking what is mostly needed and jettisoning others. Fill the tank first and forget about a balanced diet.
Also speaking, Imam of Anu Oluwa Mosque, Oyedeji, Ajegunle, Apapa, Mohammodu Saheed Issa, said: “In the mosque today, two or three people shared a slice of N200 watermelon to break their fast, which does not normally happen during fasting.
“The price of fruits is so high in the market this year that people can no longer afford to buy different fruits to break fasting like before. “Our members used to buy apples and give them out to others, but things are hard this time. Three people are sharing a small watermelon, and three others are sharing a bunch of small bananas. The price of things has risen, and we can’t get stuff as we used to before.
“Many people break with water since they can’t afford fruit or see others to buy and share with.” A resident of Ojo-road, Ajegunle, Yusuf Ali, said: “We are managing ourselves during Ramadan because things are so costly in the market, not only fruits, other things are unaffordable.
Another respondent, who simply identified herself as Mrs Shittu, said: “Fruit sellers are the ones inflating the cost because they people are fasting. Aside from fruit, everything is costly in the market, but those fruit sellers are taking advantage of this period.
“Many people are no longer buying fruit due to the hike, but sellers know the demand is high this time, so they don’t want to bring down the price.
“For instance, we used to buy a slice of watermelon for N200 and we won’t be able to finish it. Now, we rarely get a slice for that amount and if we get, it won’t satisfy us.
We are appealing to the government to intervene because the hike is not limited to the price of fruit in the market. Many traders hike prices at the expense of those observing Ramadan, which is uncalled for.
