Food Prices Still High, Nigerians Tell Agric Minister

By Adebayo Waheed, Ibadan, Aza Msue, Makurdi, Sola Ojo, Kaduna And By Abdullahi Olesin,  Ilorin

Nigerians from across the country, especially traders and foodstuff sellers, have disputed the minister of agriculture and food security, Senator Abubakar Kyari’s claim that essential food prices had dropped by up to 50 per cent compared to pre-2023 levels.

The minister recently said prices of essential food commodities had reduced by up to 50 per cent across the country.

He spoke at a meeting organised by his ministry in collaboration with the Borno State government and supported by Germany under the theme: “Stronger Partnerships for a Food Secure Nigeria.”

He attributed the price reduction to the present administration’s agricultural interventions designed to stabilise the market.

But market surveys and enquiries by our correspondents revealed that staple items remain expensive.

Many Nigerians and market observers say prices of staple food remain high, contrary to the minister’s claim.

In Oyo State for instance, a trader, Mrs Funmilayo Akanni, said while minor, seasonal adjustments or localised dips had occurred for specific items due to harvest cycles, prices had not seen a blanket or dramatic crash reflective of the 50 percent drop claimed by the minister.

She said high transportation costs, fuel prices and general food inflation continued to strain household budgets in markets across the state.

“No, the minister did not get it right. Food prices across Nigeria have not dropped by 50 percent,” she said.

A foodstuff seller, Mrs. Tawakalitu, noted that staple food items like maize, sweet potatoes, garri and some varieties of rice experienced modest month-on-month price reductions (often ranging from single digits to around 7%–10%), while other essential items like tomatoes, melon (egusi) and vegetable oil had actually spiked in price rather than falling.

“In short, the claim of a nationwide 50% reduction does not reflect the daily experiences of consumers in the markets,” she added.

The prices of foodstuff in Ilorin, Kwara State, have also increased, contrary to the minister’s claim.

A survey conducted  in major markets in Ilorin – Ipata, Oja- Oba and Mandate markets showed that the price of beans has gone up from N100,000 to N130,000 per bag.

However, the price of millet remains stable at the cost of N60,000.

Investigation also revealed that a keg of 25 litre cooking oil now goes for N66,000 as against the former price of N57,000.

Also in Benue State, foodstuff traders and buyers faulted the minister.

They said the food prices remained high as buyers  and traders struggle to buy and sell food items to consumers as the economy bites harder.

A foodstuff trader at Wurukum market in Makurdi, Grace Adagba, told our correspondent, “The market is slow. There is sharp increase in food prices due to increase in fuel prices. We put all expenses we incur while selling to buyers if not we can’t get our money back and only make small profits,” she said.

Another foodstuff buyer at Wurukum market, Joseph Agada, said he bought a mudu of foreign rice at N2,000, while other categories of rice was N1,800.

“A few months ago I bought a mudu of stone-free rice at N1,500 but now it is N1,800 and foreign rice mudu goes for N2,000,” she said.

A visit to the Bakin Dogo section of the Kaduna Central Market revealed that although the prices of local rice and garri had reduced, beans, maize and other grains remained expensive, casting doubt on the suggestion that consumers nationwide were enjoying a 50 per cent reduction in food prices.

A grain trader, Aminu Muhktar, said the price of beans had increased from N120,000 to N130,000 for a 150kg bag.

“People are saying food prices have crashed significantly, but not all of them. For example, beans is even adding money. A 150kg bag of beans that was sold for N120,000 is now N130,000,” the trader said.

The trader, however, acknowledged a slight reduction in the price of local rice, explaining that a 100kg bag, which previously sold for N120,000, now costs N110,000.

Muhktar said maize prices had also risen considerably, with newly available maize selling for N35,000 per bag and older stocks going for N45,000, compared with prices as low as N20,000 earlier in the year.

A 100kg bag of millet, the trader added, currently sells for between N42,000 and N45,000.

The trader expressed hope that prices would decline when newly harvested grains entered the market but expressed doubts about the prospect of significant reductions because of rising petrol prices and their effect on transportation and distribution costs.

“We expect to see a drop in the price when the newly harvested grains hit the market. But I doubt it because of the hike in petrol price,” the trader said.

However, a garri seller at the market offered a different perspective, supporting the minister’s claim with evidence of a substantial decline in the price of the staple food.