Rising food prices strain residents’ income– NAN Survey

Some residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), say the increase in food prices has worsened their living conditions.

The residents said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja.

A NAN survey conducted in several FCT markets, including Dei-Dei, Kubwa and Dutse, revealed significant increases in the prices of essential food items.

Findings from the survey indicate that many households are adjusting their consumption patterns, as rising costs has made it difficult to maintain three meals a day.

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According to the residents, the situation has forced them to reduce food portions and opt for cheaper alternatives.

NAN reports that traders had reported a decline in sales, attributing it to reduced purchasing power among customers.

A vegetable vendor at Dei-Dei market, Malam Adamu Isah, said traders were facing serious challenges due to the sharp rise in food prices and declining patronage.

“Previously, tomatoes was sold between N18,000 and N25,000 per big basket, but it is presently being sold between N45,000 and N48,000.

“A bag of pepper which used to cost between N70,000 and N85,000 now sells for between N80,000 and N96,000.”

Adamu however, decried loss in income due to spoilage of the products, which he said was a compounding challenge.

“Sometimes, up to a quarter or half of a basket of tomatoes gets damaged before sale, leading to financial losses,” he said.

He attributed the situation to the increase in fuel prices which delays the movement of the products to the end users.

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” Transportation is crucial in this our business. We buy these products from the farms and we sometimes face challenges in transporting them to the market.

“We appeal to the government to address the issue of fuel prices, as it is greatly affecting our businesses and livelihoods,” he said.

Another trader in Kubwa Market, Mrs Peace David, also decried low sales, which she attributed to the present economic situation in the country.

“Before, I sell a small paint rubber of tomatoes between N1,500 and N1,800, but now it sells between N4,000 and N4,500.

“ A small basket of pepper now cost N10,000 almost double its former price of N5,500 and N6, 000.

A grains seller at Dutse market, Malam Ahmad, said traders were struggling to keep their businesses afloat.

“We are just managing because we do not want to be stranded, but the constant fluctuation in prices is not encouraging.

“One cannot even plan for tommorrow because you cannot determine what will be the price of goods after this very minute,” he said.

According to him, a 50kg bag of rice now sells between N52,000 and N55,000, compared to N46,000 and N48,000 recorded about two months ago.

He added that beans now cost between N80,000 and N82,000 per 50kg bag, up from N69,000 to N72,000, while a paint bucket of garri sells between N2,000 and N2,500, compared to N1,200 to 1,500 it was previously sold.

Mr Rabi’u Haruna, a sugar vendor in Dutse market, said rising transportation costs had eroded profit margins.

“I now buy sugar at N65,000 instead of N60,000. Sometimes, even when we sell, we do not make profit due to transportation costs.”

A resident, Mr Paul Ugo, said the persistent price increases were affecting both buyers and sellers.

“Before, I used to buy in bulk, but now I can only afford small quantities.”

Mrs Safiya Muhammad, another resident also expressed concern over the impact of increased food prices on her household.

“Feeding my family has become very difficult. I now cook less and focus on food items that are cheaper just to manage.”

Muhammad called on the government to take urgent steps to stabilise prices and ease the burden on citizens.

Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), shows that Nigeria’s headline food inflation rate stood at 14.31 per cent year-on-year in March 2026, indicating sustained pressure on food prices across the country.

The survey highlights growing financial pressure on traders and consumers, as incomes remain largely unchanged while the cost of food continues to rise.

(NAN)