By Saheed Ibrahim, Adedotun Aderoboye, Alice Omofia & Aanuoluwapo Rotimi

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Nigerians now battle with skyrocketing cost of living as prices of staple food continue to rise astronomically.
Residents of Ondo state who spoke with The Hope said eating three squal meals is becoming a mirage.
They blamed the situation on farmers/herders clash, insecurity, unfriendly weather among others.
The market survey conducted by The Hope on the rise in prices of food at markets in Akure, Ondo, Oda, Oba Ile and Akoko towns revealed that traders and consumers were unhappy as prices of food items have increased by almost 25 percent.
A bag of local rice is sold for N27,000, against last year when it cost N21,000
A bag of beans, which was sold between N22,000 and N30,000 last year is now between N36,000 and N45,000.
One congo of Garri is now N600 while a crate of eggs is N1,300 for small size and N1500 for big ones on the size of the eggs in the crate, unlike last year when it was sold for N700-N800.
A 5-litre keg of palmoil sold for N1,500 last year has increased to N3,000 this year.
A piece of Titus fish is sold for N1,500 from N500.
A congo of wheat increased from N350 to N800 and a sachet of Semovita moved from N400 to N600.
Five tubers of yam sold for N2,000 last year is N3,000 this year while a basket of tomatoes has jumped from N6,000 to N20,000
Some consumers blamed the government and traders for the high food prices, saying they (prices) are becoming unbearable.
Mr. Steven Adegoke said, “The cost of staple food is going beyond the reach of the common man and the most affected are those with fixed income. People are currently living from hand to mouth with no hope of saving “.
A resident who identified herself as Faith lamented bitterly the high cost of food items, calling on the government to help make life easier for the people by finding solution to the increment in prices of food items.
Mr. Ebenezer Badejo, an Akure resident said, “We cannot continue like this. We can no longer eat what we want. Sometimes, we do not even have anything to eat because we cannot afford to buy food items. It is just sad. We hope the government will come to our aid very soon”.
A customer, Miss Adetutu Omolola said the prices of food items continued to increase almost on daily basis, adding that the prices of what you bought yesterday won’t be the same today”
She also appealed to the government to help control the prices of staple food and implored sellers to have mercy on the people and reduce the prices of their products.
In their own reactions, some traders told The Hope that the increasing rise in prices of food items was not their decision but the reality of the harsh economic downturn in the country.
The traders said they have limited goods to buy from farmers as many could no longer go to farm for fear of attacks by bandits and killer herdsmen.
Mrs Gloria Oluwafemi said that she only bought little quantity to sell since she could not afford the prices.
According to Mrs Olabisi, another trader, said, “before now, a cartoon of fish was sold between N15,000 to N17,000 but now it is almost N20,000. People are lamenting that the price is too high. Some will even leave without buying.”