Hardship: Nkpu ,Akpu, Fufu Local Nigeria Food Reduces To Size Of Eggs

By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna

As the hardship orchestrated by removal of fuel subsidy grew from bad to worst, the marketing size of one of the most cheapest commonest foods produce in Nigeria has been reduced to the size of eggs in Nigeria.

Popularly known by most tribes as Nkpu, Apku or Fufu, a Nigeria carborhidrate and high concentrated food allegedly originated from the South- Eastern part of Nigeria, decades after or before the Biafran war.

Even though the date is still in contention, the produce, a bye- product of Cassava is widely consume in Benue state beginning with the people of Agilas, Ezahs, Igwumales, Utonkon/Ufiahs, Ulai, and Edumoga and host of other areas in Idoma land in Benue state and many other indigenes. It’s also panded with mortar by some people before eating it with soup.

Before the advent of other bye- product of Cassava such Garri, Cassava flower, powder and others, Akpo and Fufu were majorly the main bye -product of Cassava, planted widely in the Eastern and middle Belt regions of Nigeria.

Currently known and consumed in Nigeria in general and internationally, Apku mostly one for hundred naira size per meal previously, is now reduced to eggs size and still one for hundred naira, making four divided by almost one piece of the old size, according to market surveys conducted in kaduna.

Cassava is used for varieties of foods in Nigeria including boiled one, fried Cassava, cake (Quasi) amongst others, with the cost skyrocketing above the reach of common people.