By Francis Igata

The Tuta absoluta otherwise known as “Tomato Ebola” which hit farmlands in the northern part of the country where tomatoes are produced in large quantity has triggered an upward spiral in prices of tomatoes across the country, especially in the eastern region given its proximity with the North.

Tomatoes

Also,the prevailing socio-economic situation in the country which notched higher,since the advent of the present administration of President Muhammad Buhari of the All Progressive Congress,APC,has buffeted most sectors of human endeavour culminating in the noticeable adjustment in life styles especially for residents in Enugu State domiciled in rural areas.

Dominated by Civil Servants that can be classified as below middle class income earners,checks by South-East Voice showed that the hike in the price of Premium Motor Spirit,PMS,otherwise known as petrol from N87.60 to N145 by the Federal Government, has forced many motorists to park their vehicles for commuter buses and tricycles as a cheaper means of movement.

Further findings show that most people in the Coal City now patronize firewood dealers for domestic and commercial cooking given the unfriendly price of kerosene which hover around N130 to N140 per liter.

Similarly, most families in the state rather than proceed to hospitals for treatment of ailments,resort to self medication and prescription from patent medicine dealers in a desperate bid to avoid the financial encumbrance of payment for cards,consultation fees and drugs as is obtainable in hospitals across the state.

This was even as most families have resorted to eating meals twice a day following the suffocating prices of staple food items in markets across the state while patronage for cow-skin alias ‘Kpomo’ has leapfrogged resulting in booming sales.

Palm stew order of the day

Mrs Ebere Agu,a widow with three children residing at Ogui Road told South-East Voice that,”We can no longer buy tomato since last two months. Four pieces of tomato sells for N500. For a family of five, you will need to buy tomato worth N4,000 to make a small pot of stew. As you know, tomato is not the only ingredient you will have to buy. The issue of meat or fish is out of it now. I cannot remember when last I cooked with meat or fish in my house.

“What we have resorted to as source of meat is Cow-Skin popularly referred to as,’Kpomo’. Then,we augment with crayfish. What I use to cook my stew is palm fruits. Since this administration at the center came in, I have not cooked with tomato in my house. What I do is to buy palm fruits each time I want make stew. We call it palm stew and it is nutritious. I prepare it buy boiling the palm fruits to boiling temperature.

“When it is done, I bring it down and mash it into a pulp. Thereafter, I will pour water into the morter I used in mashing it and sift the oil from the chaff. I will then safeguard the oil and use it to cook my stew. It goes well with vegetables like fluted pumpkin leaf,telfairia occidentalis. That is how we have been surviving. Hard times brings out the best in you and the plam stew is more sought after now even in restaurants,hotels and during occasions. With as little as N2,000 you have prepared a small pot for five that may last a day or two.”

Firewood market springs up

Findings show that Firewood markets are springing up on the outskirts of Enugu metropolis like Ibagwa and Ugwuogu firewood markets due to the increasing patronage dealers get by day. A dealer,Ani Raphael said,”most families come here weekends to buy heaps of firewood that will last them a week or two. Sometimes, you see two or three families going in the same direction chatter these commercial trucks to convey the firewood to their respective homes.

A sizeable heap goes for about N1500. If you have a moderate family, it may last for a month. “In the place i reside,my landlord used to frown at any tenant that uses firewood to cook. But since the advent of this All Progressive Congress,APC,led government,the landlord has been using firewood to cook. Infact, I supply him firewood and he pays in advance. It is cheaper than kerosene and gas.”

Motorists not left out

Amaechi Ugwuani,a Motorist residing at Achara Layout regretted that,”one can no longer afford money for fuel at the cost of N145 per liter. How many liters can you buy at that rate? I have parked my vehicle since the increase. I now use commercial buses or Keke Napeb. It is cheaper because in a day, I ended up paying N500 to ferry myself to places I want to go. This is apart from the N500 cost of transportation for my children to and from school.