Nigerians are experiencing a significant decrease in food commodity prices, bringing relief to consumers. A survey conducted by Media Talk Africa found that the price drop is attributed to the harvest season, with traders citing the influx of fresh produce as a major factor.

At the Mararaba market, located on the outskirts of the Federal Capital Territory in Nasarawa State, prices have notably decreased. A 50kg bag of foreign rice, which previously sold for between N88,000 and N90,000 in July, now costs N83,000, while the local variety has dropped from N70,000 to N65,000. White beans currently sell for N130,000 per bag, with the brown variant priced at N135,000.

In smaller quantities, a tier of white beans costs between N1,700 and N1,800, while brown beans are priced at around N2,000 per tier. However, not all food items have seen a price reduction, as Soya beans have experienced a slight increase from N80,000 in July to N85,000 in August. A trader attributed this fluctuation to seasonal factors, including scarcity and transportation costs.

The Chairman of the Tomato Sellers’ Association, Hamza Abubakar, noted that the influx of produce has altered market dynamics, with prices dropping significantly. A bag of UTC tomatoes, which previously sold for between N90,000 and N100,000, now costs N50,000. Darika tomatoes have also seen a price reduction, from N65,000 to N70,000 three weeks ago to N35,000 per bag.

Onions remain expensive, with a bag priced at around N100,000 and a basket selling for between N13,000 and N15,000. However, other food items such as cassava flakes, known as garri, have seen a price drop, with white garri selling for N72,000 per bag and yellow garri priced between N78,000 and N80,000.

Traders across the market attribute the price relief to the arrival of fresh harvests, expecting further reductions in the coming weeks, particularly for tomatoes, peppers, and grains. At the Karu market, a bag of Indian rice has decreased from N53,000 to N50,000, while Thai long-grain rice now sells for N68,000, down from N72,000.

The price drop is also evident in other markets, including the Masaka market, where a basin of milled rice now sells for between N28,000 and N32,000, down from N35,000 to N42,000. The decrease in food prices is a welcome relief for consumers, who have been experiencing price instability in recent months. As the harvest season continues, it is expected that prices will remain relatively low, providing some respite for Nigerians struggling with the high cost of living.