Tea makers, popularly known as ‘Mai shayi’, say their business is witnessing low patronage, especially for Indomie noodles as the price of the commodity continues to increase rapidly.

They spoke to NAN in Abuja on Sunday while reacting to the incessant increase in the price of Indomie instant noodles.

NAN reports that Mai shayi, which means tea makers in the Hausa language, is operated mainly by Hausa men in makeshift kiosks.

They are found in estates and by the roadside in different parts of Abuja and they sell fast food like noodles, fried eggs, bread, and tea.

NAN reports that the price of Indomie noodles, a popular fast food in Nigeria enjoyed by both the young and old, skyrocketed within a short period.

From the market survey conducted by NAN, a carton of Indomie standard pack which is the smallest size with 40 pieces is being sold for between N10,500 to N11,500.

Also, a carton of the Super Pack which contains 40 packs is sold for between N17,800 to N18,700, and a cartoon of Hungry Man size which contains 24 packs goes for between N16,800 to N17,500.

In the same vein, a packet of the standard size sells for N300, while a packet of the Super Pack and Hungry Man is sold for N500 and N700.

However, NAN reports that in supermarkets, the prices are much higher for the single packets and the cartoons.

In one of the major supermarkets in Abuja, the standard size is selling for N330 per pack and N13,200 for a carton, while the Hungry Man size is being sold for N845 for a packet and N20,280 for a carton.

Abba Idris, a Mai Shayi in Apo, said patronage had reduced for indomie because of the price increase.

“I make one hungry man now for N750, but a month ago I was making it for N400. Also, I sell one super pack for N550 as against N300 a month ago.

“Many of my customers are complaining because of the increase in price of indomie and they are not buying like before, ” he said.

Another Mai Shayi, Mustapha Abba, in Gaduwa, said his customers had reduced because they could no longer afford to buy indomie.

“I was making one super pack for N350 three weeks ago but now I make it for N600, while the hungry man was N450 now it is N850.”

He added, “Before, when you come to my stand, you will see many people in the morning and evening but they are no longer coming like before.

“Some people that used to buy two packs can only afford one pack now. Some don’t even request eggs again.

“We are not making much gain from this business. If we are to sell to make a good profit, we will not see anybody again,” he said.

Another Mai Shayi in Bwari Area Council, Gambo Haruna, also said he had witnessed a drop in patronage for indomie due to the price increase.

“Before we used to buy indomie N5,000, it increased to N6,000 and continued increasing. Now it is over N10,000, some N11, 000, depending on the size.

“Customers must reduce, they cannot afford it again because of the price now,” he said.”

Also, Mohammed Hassan, who runs a Mai Shayi business in Wuse Zone 6, corroborated what his colleagues had earlier said.

“Hungry man is N800 and the super pack is N700 without egg. Before hungry man with two eggs was N850, while super pack with two eggs was N700.

”The price keeps increasing whenever I go to the market. A carton of super pack was formerly N11,500 but now it is N18,500. My customers have really reduced. They say they can no longer afford it,” he said.