Eating the popular roasted plantain meal otherwise called bole in Port Harcourt is now a luxury.
The delicacy which used to cost N500, now sells for about N1,500; and sellers and buyers blame the increased price of petrol for this.
A middle-aged frequent buyer at the popular Elekahia Bole Spot said the delicacy is now out of the reach of minimum wage earners.
“I don’t think anyone whose monthly income is N30,000 can comfortably eat bole now,’’ he said.
“Before now, you could eat bole of N500, with fish, and get a soft drink, but the reverse is the case now. For you to be satisfied you need to spend up to N3,000 to N4,000.”
Another buyer, Oby Nene, is unhappy with the price increase.
“I picked a tail of fish here and the seller told me it goes for N2,000. The smallest fish here is N1,000,” she said.
“One plantain is sold at the price range of N400 to N500 it’s the same as the yam.’’
Sellers of the foodstuffs used in preparing this bole delicacy - plantain, pepper, onions, yam, and fish - pointed out other factors that have influenced the cost of the meal.
"We are in the rainy season and I guess it is part of the reason why some of these foodstuffs are costly, farmers need help during this period,’’ said a trader at the popular Aggrey Market. He also complained of low patronage.
A bole seller, Blessed Amadi, lamented that they would not make profits if they don't sell at a high rate. She blames the high cost on the increase in the prices of food items.
"There has been an increase in the purchase of most of the condiments needed in the preparation of this bole. A bag of pepper is now sold at N30,000 as against N12,000.
“A big bag of onions is now sold at N60,000 and 8 pieces of plantain are now being sold to us for N2,000.”
Nigeria Info’s investigation shows that a bunch of plantain which was earlier sold between N3,500 and N6,000 now goes for N7,500 to N10,000, depending on the size. A tuber of yam which ranged from N700 to 1,000 now goes for N1,500 to N3,000.
