She pointed out that the lowest quantity sales for N150, and claimed that it had become quite impossible to obtain N50 charcoal anyplace in the city.
Some Kano residents, who rely on charcoal for cooking and other energy requirements, are rather concerned about the sudden increase in charcoal prices in the city.
The grievance was voiced by the individuals during a Friday interview in Kano with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
They claimed that the cost had increased beyond what the average person could afford.
Aisha Isa, a housewife, stated that a large bag of the product, which formerly sold for N4,000, is now valued at N6,500.
She pointed out that the lowest quantity sales for N150, and claimed that it had become quite impossible to obtain N50 charcoal anyplace in the city.
Another resident, Mrs Agnes John, also bemoaned the development, arguing that the commodity “is gradually becoming unaffordable to the common man”.
John urged the government to subsidise cooking gas so that it would be affordable to many Nigerians.
Mr Baba Jibril said he enjoyed using charcoal to cook and iron his clothes because it is smoke-free and cheap.
“But now its price is beyond my reach as a bag sales between N6,500 and N7,000.
“I am contemplating reverting to firewood but it is also expensive,” Jibril said.
A food vendor at Tarauni, Hauwa Adamu, said that the high cost of kerosene and cooking gas “has suddenly made charcoal popular”.
A charcoal dealer on France Road in Sabon-gari, Rabiu Abdullahi, attributed the price hike to the high cost of transportation.
He said that although the price of the commodity rose from N4,500 to N6,700 per sack, the demand was on the increase.
Abdullahi attributed the patronage to the high cost of kerosene and cooking gas.
“A family can spend between N16,000 and N20,000 worth of kerosene per month, whereas a bag of charcoal can last for at least two months, no matter how often it is used,’’ he said.
Another trader at Dakata, Nura Garba, also linked the current price rise to the high transportation cost and insecurity.
He said that most families buy the commodity in large quantities due to the high cost of kerosene and other energy sources.
“We have continued to experience good and profitable business for sometime now.
“Due to the increase in demand, we now sell more than two bags on a daily basis,” he said.