North West:

Scarcity of local commodities as Christmas approaches  

 

From Leinyuy Marilyn in Bamenda

The North West region is witnessing a skyrocketing rate of increase in the prices of local commodities as Christmas celebrations approach. Even though the price increase has also been partly blamed on the closure of borders with Nigeria as a result of the Ebola virus scare, indigenes say end of year festivities are at the center of the hikes.

The crescendo in prices of basic commodities which many say has come too early unlike before has reportedly sparked up fear and desolation amongst indigenes who fear that this year’s celebrations may not benefit from the stupor that usually characterize end of year festivities in the region.

Some consumers however recognize the fact that prices of goods and services should normally step up as a result of the closure of borders with Nigeria from where most local commodities flow in. they are rather shocked at the fact that even prices of locally produced commodities are witnessing price increase as well. Businessmen and local “buyam sellams” have taken the opportunity of the border blockage to exploit consumers to make brisk business and enrich themselves.

This reporter spotted some ladies around the Bamenda Food Market entangled in a quarrel over the price hike issue. One of them who goes by the name Chantal had picked a quarrel with a market woman who deliberately reduced the normal quantity of green spice on the excuse that the closure of the borders with Nigeria has affected supply.

Chantal’s argument harped on the fact that green spices are a locally produced commodity in most villages in the North West region which is also cultivated in the town by some individuals. Tension mounted so that it took just the timely intervention of other marketers to put them apart.

It is also highly feared that the price per newspaper may also rise given that the price of ink, papers and other logistics for producing a magazine or a newspaper have equally been increased. Most of the printing materials used in Bamenda and the North West as a whole are ferried in from Nigeria.

A Bamenda-based printer told The Guardian Post that the border blockage has left them with no choice than to increase the cost as a result of scarcity of materials: “A plate which we normally get at 4000 FCFA now costs 8000 FCFA,” he lamented.

In the midst of the hardship, some individuals have elected the opening of the borders as a way to scale down on the crisis.

On the other hand, developmental projects have equally suffered some setbacks as most of the projects have come to a halt due to lack of materials which are only produced in neighbouring countries like Nigeria.

The above argument is substantiated by a recent declaration of the Mezam divisional delegate of MINEPAT, Nana Emmanuel Mbafong. Mbafong had disclosed during the Mezam 3^rd quarter follow-up committee meeting of MINEPAT which held recently that most of the public investment projects would have long been realized but for the fact that borders have been closed and ports blocked. Reports have it too that other divisions are facing similar situations.