By Aliyu DANLADI
Prices of alcohol and non-alcohol drinks have soared in Benin, the Edo capital, as residents celebrate the Valentine season, TBI Africa said the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
NAN correspondent, who monitored the markets, reports that the price increase was also due to the economic situation apart from the Valentine Day celebration.
Areas visited by NAN correspondent included markets and shops at Ekiosa, Oba, Uselu and Egor markets in the metropolis.
At Ekiosa Market, Mrs Lydia Uyi, who sells beverages in cartons attributed the new price to Valentine celebration.
She said a carton of Malta Guinness, which sold for N3, 100 in December was now N3, 250, while a bottle of the same drink, which sold for N150 then, was now N170.
Madam Olivia Oseme, another trader at Oba Market, told NAN that due to the price hike, some drinks sellers had closed shop.
“Majority of them stopped selling and has reserved their stocks to sell on Valentine Day for maximum profit.
According to her, the prevailing market situation and the Valentine are factors that contributed to the increase.
“There is gain in selling of drinks, but presently no gain. It is too expensive, that is why we sell-off this remaining set this Valentine season.
At Egor Market, a customer, Ms Okpako Akpofure, attributed the non-availability of buyers to the fact that the price of drinks had soared due to the Valentine celebrations.
