Nigerians are experiencing a significant decrease in food commodity prices, bringing relief to consumers. A survey conducted by Media Talk Africa attributes the price drop to the harvest season, with traders citing an influx of fresh produce as the main factor.
At the Mararaba market on the outskirts of the Federal Capital Territory in Nasarawa State, prices have notably fallen. A 50 kg bag of foreign rice, which 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 are now N130,000 per bag and brown beans N135,000. In smaller quantities, a tier of white beans costs N1,700–N1,800, and brown beans around N2,000 per tier. However, not all items have decreased; soya beans have risen slightly from N80,000 in July to N85,000 in August, a change traders link to seasonal scarcity and higher transportation costs.
Hamza Abubakar, Chairman of the Tomato Sellers’ Association, noted that the surge of produce has altered market dynamics, causing prices to fall sharply. A bag of UTC tomatoes, previously N90,000–N100,000, now sells for N50,000. Darika tomatoes have dropped from N65,000–N70,000 three weeks ago to N35,000 per bag. Onions remain expensive, with a bag priced around N100,000 and a basket at N13,000–N15,000. Conversely, cassava flakes (garri) have become cheaper: white garri is N72,000 per bag and yellow garri N78,000–N80,000.
Traders across the market expect further reductions in the coming weeks, especially for tomatoes, peppers and grains, as fresh harvests continue to arrive. At Karu market, a bag of Indian rice fell from N53,000 to N50,000, while Thai long‑grain rice dropped from N72,000 to N68,000. Similar trends are seen in other markets; for example, at Masaka market a basin of milled rice now sells for N28,000–N32,000, down from N35,000–N42,000.
The overall decrease in food prices offers a welcome respite for consumers who have faced price instability in recent months. As the harvest season progresses, prices are expected to remain relatively low, providing some relief for Nigerians struggling with the high cost of living.
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