“Last year, I could buy a basket of tomatoes for ₦3,000, but now, it’s over ₦10,000,” Ekanem, a market trader in Lagos, lamented.
Her frustration is shared by millions of Nigerians who are struggling with rising food prices, making it hard to afford basic food items.
Even though the presidency claims that food prices are dropping.
President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga asserted that food inflation in Nigeria is on the decline, citing significant reductions in the prices of essential food items such as yam and tomatoes.
However many Nigerians disagreed with the claims.
They argued that food inflation is still extremely high, making it difficult for families to put food on the table. Why is the price of food items in Nigeria continuously increasing?
The Impact of Insecurity on Food Production
One of the main reasons food prices are rising in Nigeria is the ongoing insecurity, especially in the Northern states where much of the country’s food is grown. A report by SBM Intelligence shows that over 3,000 farmers were killed between 2020 and 2023 due to conflicts with bandits, insurgents, and herdsmen with Benue, Kaduna, Katsina, and Zamfara being the most affected. This violence has been ongoing for more than ten years, but it has gotten worse in recent years, seriously disrupting farming activities. The constant threat of attacks has forced many farmers to leave their lands, leading to a drop in food production. For instance, in Benue State, often called the “Food Basket of the Nation,” over 100,000 farmers have been displaced due to violence. This has directly impacted the supply of staple foods, leading to higher prices across the country.
Fuel Subsidy Removal and Its Effect on Transportation Costs
The removal of fuel subsidy in 2023 is another critical factor driving up food prices. This policy change led to a sharp rise in fuel prices, which in turn increased transportation costs. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), transportation costs increased by over 70% in the first six months after the subsidy was removed. Research shows a strong connection between transportation costs and food prices. A study by the Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa (CSEA) found that transportation costs make up about 30-40% of the final price of food items in Nigeria. With higher fuel prices, the cost of moving food from rural farms to urban markets has increased, leading to higher prices for consumers. For example, transporting goods from Kano to Lagos, a journey of about 1,000 kilometers, used to take around two days and cost about ₦50,000 before the subsidy was removed. Now, the same journey takes longer due to bad road conditions and costs over ₦100,000. This has a ripple effect on the prices of food in the markets.
Bad Roads and Delayed Transport
Bad roads have been a long-standing problem in Nigeria, but the combination of poor infrastructure and rising transportation costs has made the situation worse. The Nigerian road network, particularly in rural areas has been in poor condition for decades. A 2022 report by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing revealed that over 60% of federal roads are in bad condition, with some parts being almost impassable. Good roads are essential for reducing the time and cost of transporting food. In countries like Kenya, where investments have been made in road infrastructure, transportation times have been cut by 50%, leading to lower food prices. In Nigeria, however, the lack of investment in roads means that food takes longer to reach the markets, often arriving in a spoiled or degraded state, further driving up prices of the few good items.
Although, report from experts indicates that the Nigerian inflation rate has fallen to 33.40% in July, the cost of living is still at an all-time high. Food prices are continuously increasing, people can barely afford to eat 3-square meals. Therefore, It is paramount that the government put in measures that would ease the burden of feeding on Nigerian families by stabilizing the economy.
Nigeria’s food crisis is a serious issue that needs quick and comprehensive solutions. Strengthening security for farmers, investing in infrastructure, reconsidering the fuel subsidy, and updating agricultural practices are not just choices—they are essential steps.
The time for partial efforts has passed. If the government genuinely wants to end the cycle of high food prices, it must take firm action and commit to lasting solutions that tackle the root causes of the crisis. Anything less would be unfair to the millions of Nigerians who are struggling to afford their next meal.
