By UCHENNA ELETUO

Yuletide – Christmas and the period around it, with its festivities – is seen by many as a season of warmth, love, peace with Christmas itself being the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.

Yuletide is characterised by merriment, travels, recreation, charity, gatherings, etc., which promote social integration, peace and love.

Yearly, many families buy food stuff and other commodities some months or weeks before Yuletide due to increase in prices of such commodities which characterise the season in most cases.

Increase in services including transport also character Yuletide yearly.

While some families buy goods, particularly food stuffs, ahead of Yuletide, for their own consumption, others buy for themselves and for distribution to the needy, friends, neighbours and others.

Analysts are worried that the ‘demands’ of Yuletide put pressure on many Nigerians, with some spending more than necessary and even taking loans, while unpatriotic ones engage in stealing, fraud and other vices to raise money.

They believe that celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ and New Year should not put such pressure on Nigerians.

Analysts also ask if the price increase is real or artificial and exploitative.

A social scientists, Dr Adebowale Lasisi, says Nigerians have the penchant to take advantage of any opportunity to exploit others.

He says the exploitation is a reflection of greed and unpatriotism.

“The crave to take advantage of others or cash in on a season such as Yuletide to exploit others through increase in prices of goods and services should not arise.

Describing the trend as a social deformity, Lasisi is convinced that, with social security in place, such a situation will not be.

Lasisi, a university lecturer, calls on governments and the civil society to help to put an end to the trend.

A former Imam of Lagos State University, Prof. Amidu Sanni, describes such an increase as retrogressive.

Sanni says instead of adding flavour to Yuletide, the trend dispossesses people of purchasing power to celebrate the period.

“It has become an ugly tradition to have prices of consumables such as rice, condiments, confectioneries and services such as transport and others, to increase during this period for no just cause.

“As a people we must reverse this trend that serves no good.

“The worse is that any price that goes up never comes down irrespective of economic derivatives geared toward price reduction by governments,” he argues.

He regrets that this Yuletide some inter-state transport fares have increased by over 65 per cent, keeping many travellers stranded.

Mr Ogwuchukwu Ezeodili, a Manager at Alaba, Ojo, Lagos State Luxury Bus Park, blames the increase on bad roads.

The transport manager describes Yuletide as a time of upsurge in the number of travellers, saying that bad condition of some roads and its wear tear on vehicles as well as the cost of vehicle maintenance contributed to the increase in transport fares.

Another transporter, Mr Andrew Bioseh, observes that increased fare has compelled many travellers to opt for night journeys in spite of the associated risks.

Bioseh notes that before Thursday (Christmas Day), transport fare from Lagos to Aba in Abia was between N28,000 and N30,000 during the daytime while night travel cost N22,000.

According to him, at the moment, daytime bus fare to Aba stands at N42,000 while night bus fare is N33,000.

A traveller, Ms Ijeoma Ekezie, says she prefers night travels during festive periods to save cost and avoid overcrowding associated with daytime travels during such periods.

Bishop Charles Ighele of the Holy Spirit Church, Ikeja, warns that exploitation of any sort is a sin and should be avoided for personal and societal progress.

Analysts urge collective efforts of governments, market associations, transport unions, the civil society and other stakeholders to eradicate unwarranted increase in the cost of essential commodities and services during Yuletide in the interest of the masses. (NAN)