'It is suffocating us' - Frozen fish and chicken sellers protest over rising cost of goods

Disgruntled frozen fish and chicken traders in Warri, Delta State, on Thursday, October 26, embarked on a protest following the rising cost of goods.

The protesting traders which consists of mostly women, were armed with leaves as they chanted anti-government songs.

Report indicates that the traders stormed the locations of some of the leading wholesalers of frozen foods in Warri South and Uvwie Local Government Areas.

According to them, the daily rise in prices of frozen foods were unbearable as it is affecting their business.

One of the traders identified as Mrs Onoriode Onokpite who spoke to the media said they are faced with low patronage on daily basis as a result of the high cost.

“Customers no longer patronise us as they used to. It is suffocating us. Most of us are bread winners of our families.

“We decided to take our protest to the wholesalers of frozen foods so that they can reduce prices of frozen foods for us. Government should wade into the matter. We are dying," she said.

Reacting to this grievances of the traders, spokesperson of Ocean Lord Frozen Foods Company, Solomon Ogheneovo, blamed the increase in exchange of the naira to dollar.

He urged the traders to direct their grievances at the government, not the wholesalers of frozen foods.

“If the exchange rate of the naira to dollar is low, the retail price of frozen foods will equally be low”, he said.