Petrol prices have surged past ₦900 per litre in several parts of Nigeria, hitting traders in Anambra State hard during the Easter season. Market women in Onitsha Main Market reported significantly lower sales compared to previous years, blaming the high cost of transportation and reduced consumer spending. One trader, Mrs. Nkechi Okafor, said she made only ₦8,000 in sales over the Easter weekend, a fraction of the ₦50,000 she typically earns during the period. Another vendor, Mr. Chinedu Eze, said transport fares doubled, making it harder to bring goods to the market and for customers to travel.
The rising cost of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) has rippled through the economy, affecting supply chains and household budgets. Traders noted that even basic commodities became less affordable as transporters passed on higher fuel costs. A customer, Miss Ifeoma Nwosu, said she spent more on transport to the market than on the items she bought. The Anambra Market Women Association expressed concern over the declining purchasing power of consumers. No official intervention has been announced to cushion the impact on traders.
Mrs. Nkechi Okafor making ₦8,000 instead of ₦50,000 over Easter says more about Nigeria's economy than any official inflation figure. When fuel prices dictate whether a market woman can feed her family, the burden falls hardest on those with the least. This isn't a temporary slump—it's the reality for millions of traders who depend on daily sales. Without direct relief, such price spikes will keep eroding livelihoods, not just profits.
