Coronavirus: Nigerian Foods Vanish From US Stores As Panic Buying Continues

Nigerians living in the US may experience tougher days ahead as most shops are running out of supplies of favourite African food stuffs.

Nigerian staple foods including garri, yams, ogbono, pepper, smoked fish and other condiments are fast getting exhausted without further supplies from home as a result of measures put in place to prevent spread of the virus.

As at Friday morning (Nigerian time) cases of the disease in the United States has soared from 11,000 Thursday evening to 13,000 and the government must work round the clock to stem the tide.

A Nigerian residing in the US, Sunday Enitan, told National Wire’s US correspondent he had to wait three days before he could get the Nigerian foodstuffs he needed. If things remain this way, Africans in the US especially Nigerians may have to make do with whatever supply they have before shops restock.

Suppliers of Nigerian staple to the United States may make brisk business after the virus must have been conquered hopefully soon. While there would be glut back home, Nigerians in the diaspora may need to restock as fast as possible.

Joseph Agori owns an African store in Raleigh, North Carolina. He told National Wire his store did not have items like smoked turkey and fish as of Wednesday because the suppliers of the items in Detroit and Atlanta respectively gave him a week wait period to get restocked.

“It’s like blessing in adversity,” he said, telling National Wire’s correspondent he noted that customers had continued to besiege his store for panic buying over the weekend as the pandemic continued to spread.

However Nigerians in California may also exhaust supply of their local foodstuff as the state with 40 million inhabitants has just announced a shutdown. The implication of this is that more people would be idle at home and must keep feeding.

There is likelihood in the days to come that more states in the US would emulate California which would also put pressure on Nigerians as far as their local food supply is concerned.

Meanwhile back home, the Lagos State government has advised against mass gathering in order to prevent spread of the disease. Churches and mosques with over 50 worshipers should not gather in the coming weeks according to the recent directive.

The directive also concerns large meetings, parties and events that could attract crowd. Schools are also shut down till further directives.

 

Pix by: Tayo Olanipekun