A 2024 World Food Programme report has attributed the soaring prices in Nigeria to ongoing conflicts in key agricultural states, high costs of inputs and transportation, and reliance on market purchases due to below-average staple production.
For the past year, Nigerians have faced a relentless rise in food prices, leaving many struggling to make ends meet.
Households are even forced to prioritize spending and skip meals as incomes shrink, in April, food inflation, a major driver of overall inflation, surged to 40.5 percent.
Experts warned that food insecurity will persist unless the insecurity deterring farmers from their fields is resolved.
“Until the crisis is settled, food insecurity will continue to plague a nation with abundant arable land,” they say.
Muhammad, a fruit seller in Lagos, told The Explainer that the price of carrots, a substitute for tomatoes, has skyrocketed from N7,000 to N100,000 per basket.
“It’s not just carrots; all food items have tripled in price,” he added.
The Explainer survey across major markets reveals the average price of a 50kg bag of yellow garri has jumped from N18,000 in May 2023 to N60,000 in May 2024.
Fresh tomatoes, the most consumed vegetable, now cost N120,000 per big basket, up from N40,000 last year.
Nigerians have taken to social media to express their distress.
@Sisi_Yemmie tweeted, “I don’t know how people are not panicking because of this food inflation because I’m low-key panicking.”
Another user, @asunwa, said, “I’m panicking. I’ve been panicking. But what can I do? I cannot generate health problems from panicking because of inflation.”
A joint report by the FAO and WFP, titled “Hunger Hotspots,” lists Nigeria among 18 countries at risk of acute food hunger from June to October 2024.
The International Rescue Committee predicts 32 million Nigerians will face acute hunger between June and August 2024, urging the government to find sustainable solutions.
With over 200 million people, Nigeria is the largest nation in West Africa, yet about 84 million Nigerians, or 37 percent of the population, live below the poverty line.
“My monthly food budget can no longer buy the food items I used to buy before. It’s so saddening the way food prices are rising,” said Ayomitide Folarin, an accountant in Abuja.
The experiences of SisiYemmie, Ayomitide Folarin, and Olawale reflect the plight of many Nigerians living in fear of the ever-increasing food prices.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has prioritized tackling food insecurity, but nearly a year after declaring a state of emergency in the sector, Nigerians still struggle to afford a balanced diet.
