- 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.
