Some Kano residents, who rely on charcoal for cooking and other energy needs, have expressed profound concern over the dramatic increase in its price in the city. The people made the accusation during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano on Friday.
They said that the price had risen beyond the means of the average individual. Mrs Aisha Isa, a housewife, stated that a large bag of the goods, which previously sold for N4,000, now costs N6,500. She stated that it had become extremely difficult to get N50 charcoal anyplace in the city, noting that the cheapest quantity was sold for N150.
Mrs Agnes John, another resident, lamented the trend, claiming that the product “is gradually becoming unaffordable to the common man”. John encouraged the government to subsidise cooking gas so that it is affordable to more Nigerians.
Mr Baba Jibril stated that he enjoys using charcoal to cook and iron his clothing since it is smoke-free and inexpensive. “But now its price is out of my reach, as a bag costs between N6,500 and N7,000. “I am contemplating reverting to firewood but it is also expensive,” Jibril told me.
Hauwa Adamu, a food vendor in Tarauni, stated that the high cost of kerosene and cooking gas “has suddenly made charcoal popular”. Rabiu Abdullahi, a charcoal vendor on France Road in Sabon-gari, ascribed the price increase to high shipping costs.
He stated that even though the commodity’s price had risen from N4,500 to N6,700 per sack, demand was increasing. Abdullahi ascribed the patronage to the high price of kerosene and cooking gas. “A family can spend between N16,000 and N20,000 on kerosene per month, whereas a bag of charcoal can last for at least two months, regardless of how frequently it is used,” he said.
Nura Garba, a trader at Dakata, attributed the current price increase to transportation costs and insecurity. He explained that families purchase the commodity in large quantities due to the high cost of paraffin and other energy sources. “We have continued to experience good and profitable business for some time now,” he said.
