“Many families can no longer afford basic food. Hunger is everywhere. Transport costs are killing us. We pay nearly triple now to bring in rice. It’s affecting how we stock and sell,” said a trader in Anambra
Despite federal assurances that food inflation is slowing, findings across major Nigerian markets suggest otherwise, with staple food prices remaining high or rising further—particularly in the South and parts of the central region.
According to June 2025 data from the National Bureau of Statistics, food inflation eased slightly to 38.2% from 40.66% in May. However, market surveys in Lagos, Oyo, Delta, Anambra, and Abuja indicate that the downward trend has not translated into real relief for consumers.
In Lagos, a 50kg bag of local rice jumped from ₦53,000 in May to ₦77,000 by July. Tomatoes now sell for over ₦100,000 per basket. “About two months ago, a bag of local parboiled rice sold for about ₦53,750, but now it has increased to ₦77,000,” said Temitope Maria, a trader in Ikorodu.
In Anambra and Delta, traders attributed the price surge to rising transport costs and irregular food supply. “Many families can no longer afford basic food. Hunger is everywhere,” lamented Simon Uche, a rice dealer in Onitsha.
While markets in Sokoto, Kaduna, and Benue reported modest price drops linked to new harvests, experts say insecurity, logistics challenges, and poor infrastructure continue to drive high food prices in the South.