Up till the mid-eighties this was a great amount to spend in everyone’s pocket. It was not a matter of using it as “change” after a transaction, it was the actual amount used to purchase necessities. In fact, you get your “change” after the transaction.
If you were born in the seventies or early eighties then you’d agree fifty kobo was probably as reliable at N100 is today. We have several memories of what it could buy but I have my firm favourite. The list below is my top ten most important item 50 kobo could buy.
- 10 packs of candles @ 5kobo each – Back then there were no inverters and only rich people used generators. Candles were an essential commodity
- 5 litres of petrol @ 20kobo per litre – My dad was so shrewd he hardly spent more than 50 kobo on petrol.
- Ekono Gowon sweets – These were very long black sweets with a pencil mouth. They were locally made and tasted so sweet.
- Could pay your telephone bills for a month with NITEL –
- Could pay your NEPA bill for a month
- 5 electric bulbs (60watts) @ 10kobo each
- 3 cans of Carnation milk @ 15kobo each – If you belonged to a middle class family then you should remember this milk
- A carton of biscuit – Okin comes to mind….especially the rectangular ones.
- A role of 40 leaves exercise books – Remember 2A, 2D etc.
- Transport – There were no okadas back then so its either you take a danfo , taxi or kabu kabu. With 50 kobo, you are sure to get to your destination.
You may not agree totally with my list but these are my absolute essentials that 50kobo could surely afford. Is it different from yours? List yours.
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