by Niyi Jacobs
The prices of major staple foods in Nigeria, such as beans, yam, potato, plantain, and tomato, have risen by over 250% in the last one year, according to the latest Food Price Watch from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
The report shows that the price of beans soared by 252% between June 2023 and June 2024, from N651.12 to N2,292.76 per kilogram. Tomatoes (1kg) saw a 320.67% price increase, from N547.28 to N2,302.26, while Irish potatoes rose by 288.50%, from N623.75 to N2,423.27.
Other staple foods also experienced significant price increases, including yam tuber (295.79% rise), loose white garri (181.66% rise), and local rice (179.97% rise).
The South-West region recorded the highest prices for most of these food items, while the North-West region had the lowest prices.
This surge in food prices has raised concerns about food insecurity and the impact on Nigerian households.
