In Nigerian households, the daily consumption of beverages, particularly chocolate powdered drinks, has been a common practice. However, the relentless surge in the prices of goods and services, affecting everyone, is now taking its toll on the beverage sector.
A stroll through the markets today presents a plethora of beverage brands, but the prices have become a sensitive topic. Gone are the days when one could easily afford a sachet of beverage drink for as little as N20.
Recent visits to various provision stores revealed a staggering increase in the cost of a sachet of any beverage drink (20 grams), ranging from N120 to N200, with reduced quantity and quality being noticeable factors.
Consequently, many individuals have resorted to producing their own beverages. Mrs. Uzoma Kalu, a fashion designer, shared her experience, stating that the price of the beverage powder she used to buy skyrocketed from N8,000 to N15,000. Faced with this predicament, she ventured into making her own powdered beverage, which turned out to be a success, costing her no more than N5,000 for all the materials.
Expressing a similar sentiment, Mr. Segun Fadahun, a plumber, expressed his dissatisfaction with the quality and cost of beverages in the market. He has since switched to drinking tea due to the exorbitant prices and diminished quality of available beverages.
Meanwhile, Miss. Tomiwa Mautin, an undergraduate, has taken matters into her own hands by making most of her dry food items, including beverages, herself. Learning the process online has empowered her to bypass the inflated prices in the market.
Further insights into the escalating beverage costs were provided by Mr. George Badmus, a provision store owner, who attributed the phenomenon to the uncertain economic landscape. He highlighted the ripple effect of the depreciation of the naira against the dollar, leading to increased production costs for suppliers, which are then passed on to consumers.