A Nigerian mart, the Ebeano Supermarket in Abuja, has been slammed by shoppers for inflating prices by taking advantage of the current scarcity of tomatoes and peppers.
Pictures trending on social media show that the supermarket hiked the price of three pieces of tomatoes astronomically.
According to the picture posted by one X user, Olaudah Equiano, three pieces of tomatoes had N6,950 as their price tag.
The Ebeano supermarket reportedly cited the current scarcity as the reason for the hike.
The X handle said:
Other social media users commenting on the picture said the price tag may have been removed after a public outcry, as many who visited the place did not see it.
Nigeria has been hit with a massive tomato and spice scarcity following the Tomato Ebola outbreak in farms in the North.
Nigerians reportedly resort to other sources as the scarcity has driven tomato costs through the roof.
According to reports, a state government in the North declared a state of emergency after moths destroyed large tomato fields, threatening supplies.
The report stated that farmers described the outbreak as tomato Ebola after the disease that destroyed West Africa in 2014.
There are fears that the outbreak will affect jollof rice preparation, a popular Nigerian dish.
TimesNow.com.ng earlier reported that Shoprite Mall had announced the closure of its branch at Novare Central Mall in Wuse Zone 5, Abuja, effective June 30, 2024.
The decision was disclosed in a circular signed by Folakemi Fadahunsi, the chief executive officer, informing vendors that their services would no longer be required at the store.
This was not the first time Shoprite would close one of its branches in Nigeria.
Proofread by Kola Muhammed, journalist and copyeditor at TimesNow.com.ng
Source: TimesNow.com.ng
