Despite Federal Government assurances that food inflation is on a downward trajectory, on-ground market surveys across key cities suggest otherwise, with the prices of essential food items remaining stubbornly high. Both traders and consumers continue to lament the unrelenting economic strain.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), food inflation slowed in June 2025 to 38.2 per cent from 40.66 per cent in May, attributing the decline to improved food supply and government interventions. However, findings from Sunday PUNCH indicate a stark contrast between official figures and market realities.

Across states including Lagos, Oyo, Delta, Rivers, Anambra, Abuja, Sokoto, Kano, and Kaduna, prices of staples like rice, beans, yam, tomatoes, maize, and garri have either remained unchanged or escalated over the past two months—often exceeding pre-May levels.

In the South-West, particularly Lagos, prices have surged dramatically. At markets in Iyana Iba, Ikorodu, and surrounding areas, a bag of local parboiled rice rose from ₦53,000 in May to ₦77,000 in July. A 50kg bag of maize jumped from ₦68,000 to ₦78,000, while a bag of white garri reached ₦60,000.

Tomatoes recorded one of the most dramatic increases, climbing from ₦58,500 per basket in May to a staggering ₦110,000 by July. Onions followed a similar trend, rising from ₦85,000 per bag in May to ₦140,000 by July. Beans remained costly, hovering at ₦82,000 in May and easing slightly to ₦75,000 in June. Fresh yam tubers now sell between ₦5,000 and ₦6,000.

Traders described the situation as highly unstable. At Ikorodu Market, a trader, Temitope Maria, said, “About two months ago, a bag of local parboiled rice was ₦53,750. Now it’s ₦77,000. It keeps rising without warning.”

At Iyana Iba Market, another trader, Mallam Mohammed, attributed the surging prices of tomatoes and pepper to escalating transport costs. “We bring them from the North. Transport is expensive, so we buy less and sell higher. That’s why customers complain,” he said.

In Ibadan, Oyo State, market conditions revealed mixed signals. While food prices soared in Gbagi Market, Bodija Market showed minor declines. At Gbagi, a paint bucket of beans rose from ₦1,200 in May to ₦3,000. Fish prices also skyrocketed. A fish vendor, Mrs. Olaitan Deborah, reported, “Sawa fish was ₦500, now ₦1,000. A carton of Sawa went from ₦24,000 to ₦61,000. Kote fish jumped from ₦53,000 to ₦65,000 in just four days. Titus climbed from ₦18,000 to ₦125,000 per carton, and turkey rose from ₦30,000 to ₦58,000.”

Yam sellers echoed similar concerns. “Big yam tubers that were ₦4,000 now sell for ₦7,500. Small ones that were ₦1,500 are now ₦4,000,” said Mrs. Abduljabar Idayat.

However, at Bodija Market, some traders reported mild relief. Rasheed Ajani, a foodstuffs dealer, noted that rice prices had dropped slightly from ₦85,000 to between ₦80,000 and ₦81,000 per bag. Beans also fell from ₦75,000 to ₦51,000.

Meanwhile, in Osun State, prices continued their upward trajectory. Visits to Ota Efun and Igbona markets in Osogbo revealed that a 50kg bag of rice now sells for ₦74,000.

These figures paint a grim picture of ongoing food insecurity and economic hardship, raising concerns about the effectiveness of official inflation metrics in capturing the lived experiences of ordinary Nigerians.

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