SIZE OF HAMPER AFFECTED BY THE CURRENT RECESSION IN NIGERIA

- This year's Christmas celebrations has been hampered by the economic recession

- Many can't afford to buy what they want for Christmas

- Even Christmas hampers are not spared

A report by The Punch has detailed how Christmas hampers have been affected by the economic 

recession currently ravaging Nigeria.

Nigerians are ditching the regular hampers for more innovative ones

Christmas hampers are packaged gifts usually in a basket and filled with goodies, which people usually deliver to their clients, friends and loved ones. 

Charity Owoh, a procurement officer in a private firm disclosed how she got an 'innovative' hamper instead of the usual ones filled with provisions.

“It was something I hadn’t seen before. In the big basket were four big tubers of yam, a bunch of plantain, some bulbs of onions and some potatoes neatly packed.

The basket also contained 1kg of rice. I was so impressed. It is not like the usual hamper that contained biscuits and milk and beverage. This is really what I needed and I was happy with it,” she said.

Owoh's gift seem to be a trend as some have tagged it ‘Nigerian hamper’ or ‘Recession hamper’.

A nurse, Sandra Ubochi, who is a matron in one of the hospitals in Lagos, also said she received such hamper few days ago.

“Mine wasn’t in a basket anyway but in a basin. It contained tubers of yam, dried abacha (cassava flakes), pineapples, potatoes and a 5kg of groundnut oil.

“I was so surprised because this was my first time of seeing such innovation. And in these difficult times, the food items actually came in handy.

“It was a lot better than the usually biscuit and margarine and such like that we see in everyday hamper,” she said.

A patient at the hospital also claimed she had received such hamper few days ago. 

Her words:  “I was equally surprised when I got mine. At first, I felt it looked fetish but then, I concluded it was creative and what people really need this period. Food is scarce and expensive.

“This is an inspiration we ought to promote at every opportunity we get. We should always promote our own and not swallow and imitate everything the Westerners bring to us.

“Who needs wine on empty stomach? What will I be doing with cabin biscuit and cornflakes when my stomach is groaning with hunger? It is just that we don’t appreciate our own concept in Nigeria.

“By the time you add one or two ingredients to the items in the hamper, a meal is set and you will eat and be full rather than take meals meant for cats and mice.”

Pictures of such hampers have gone viral on the internet with so many people marvelling at such creativity and concept especially this period of dearth.

“This is an African inspired hamper and it is so cool. If you use the fowl to make hot and spicy yam pepper soup, your day is made and you already have a yummy Xmas.

“Is there anyway anybody would eat cornflakes or those sweet biscuit for Christmas. This is the real deal. I just wish somebody would give me this for Christmas,” someone wrote on Instagram.

Joseph Phillips, a young farmer and one of the persons who took the step to give out such hampers, explained why he adopted the new concept.

His words: “This year has not been bad for me. I invested in agriculture and farming and animal husbandry and it yielded dividends this year.

“So I felt it wouldn’t be a bad idea to give out and appreciate people with products from my farms and livestock. I even think this food hamper is cheaper than the regular hamper.

“All the people I gave this hamper were pleasantly surprised and happy. It is just away from the norm. This is a way of encouraging the agricultural sector and also diversifying our economy. All the products are natural.

“If such hampers are encouraged and appreciated more, I am sure it would become bad business for the usual hamper sellers and everybody may embrace this concept.” 

At the Balogun Market on Lagos Island, hundreds of hampers were on display but the patronage has not been so encouraging.

Vera Babafemi, who manages her mother’s shop on Breadfruit Street at the Balogun Market, said they have been worse hit this year since they started the hamper business over 12 years ago.

“It has never been this bad. This is the first time we would have hampers and they are not cleared by customers.

“This particular hamper (pointing at a basket) used to be N20, 000 but it is N35, 000 now. In fact, we are running at a loss at that price. Even at that, people are not buying.

“With the way things are now, I know that a lot of people would prefer if such amount of money is given to them. But this is a ritual we have been doing over the years, we didn’t know that business would be this poor this year. We thought that no matter what, people would still give out hampers.”

Meanwhile, a university don, Professor Park Idisi has said the 2017 budget may not bail Nigeria out of its economic recession if adequate measures are not put in place.