Firewood, Charcoal Sellers Make Brisk Business in Onitsha - Firewood and charcoal sellers in Onitsha are making brisk business as prices of kerosene have gone high due to its scarcity. Few fuel stations in Onitsha that had kerosene sold it between N150 and N160 per litre. A bag of charcoal now sells for between N1, 200 and N1, 400 from the old price of N800 while a bundle of firewood goes for between N160 and N170 from N100.

Mrs. Ngozi Chukwuani, a charcoal dealer at Ochancha Market, said that her sales had increased from an average of four bags to about 18 bags daily.

"Truly, the market had improved. We pray it continues like this and with time people would understand that anything cooked or baked with charcoal has better taste than that of kerosene stove," Chukwuani said.

Mrs. Josephine Romaine, a firewood seller in Osa Market, said that she her patronage had increased and that more people are coming into the business to make quick gains.

"Customers have been coming; just this morning I sold 40 bundles of firewood and I have been selling an average of about 80 bundles each day for the past two months," Romaine said.

Daily Champion/12/05/2011