By JOY MBACHI

Residents of Anambra capital city, Awka, have blamed the low-key Christmas celebrations witnessed on the high cost of food items and other products needed for the celebrations.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent, who sampled opinionsacross the city, reports that the high cost of items affected the usual joyous mood associated with the festival.

Mazi Christian Beluchukwu said in Awka on Monday that the Christmas celebrations came amidst mixed feelings for him.

Beluchukwu said that prices of items like cooking gas, petrol and food soared beyond the reach of the common man.

“I did not buy enough dresses for my family members due to paucity of fund.

“We usually contribute among friends to buy cow but this season we couldn’t afford it.

“A good cow now costs a million naira, so I resorted to live chicken which was not easy too, as it sold for between N17,000 and N20,000.

He said in the past between N5,000 and N8,000 will buy you a heavy chicken that will be a family delight but the sweet story is gone,” he said.

Beluchukwu said despite the hardship experienced this year, he remained grateful to God for life.

Mrs Obioma Chinedu, a mother of four, said that 2023 has been characterised by mixed feelings.

Chinedu said that local rice sold for N25,000 as against the normal price of N15,000.

“Imported rice was reserved for the super rich, and protein available for the common citizens was iced fish which sold for between N1,000 and N2,000 for one,” she said.

She said that soft drinks also rose to between N850 and N500 per pack of six bottles while the malt drink sells for between N5,000 and N7,000 per pack of 24 containers, depending on the choice product.

Chinedu said that insecurity rate also reduced the flow of joy associated with the season and called for improvement in security network of the country in the coming year.

Mrs Grace Anagor, a petty trader, said that low patronage also greeted the market.

Anagor said that the hardship caused by emerging cash crunch affected everyone, both buyers and sellers.

Mr Ifeanyi Nwoke said that the exorbitant cost of transportation meant a huge reduction in the usual exchange of visits.

Nwoke said that 2023 had both political and economic challenges, but expressed the hope that the coming year will birth goodness. (NAN)