
Photo illustration by Dami Mojid / THE REPUBLIC.
THE MINISTRY OF BUSINESS X THE ECONOMY
Why Is Food So Expensive in Nigeria?

Photo illustration by Dami Mojid / THE REPUBLIC.
THE MINISTRY OF BUSINESS X THE ECONOMY
Why Is Food So Expensive in Nigeria?
Sometime in June 2024, I visited my local market in Abuja armed with a shopping list, a bag, and a modest budget, hoping to secure all my essentials. As expected, the market was lively, with vendors touting their wares as the best deals, although many were hesitant to, citing rising operational costs. The yam seller blamed soaring transportation fares, while the meat vendors pointed to the fluctuating naira-dollar exchange rate as the root of their challenges.
I managed to purchase most of my items at arguably reasonable prices until I reached the tomato stand. There, a familiar vendor handed me a small portion of tomatoes for ₦1,500, casually dismissing my attempts at bargaining. Instead, they suggested I survey the market, or even the country, to understand the current pricing landscape for tomatoes.
For several months, the dramatic surge in tomato prices left many Nigerians worried, especially considering tomatoes’ essential role in popular dishes like jollof rice and stew. As a result, many experimented with substitutes, such as watermelon, cucumber, and carrot. Social media platforms were abuzz with creative home cooks sharing their culinary innovations, a testament to the adaptability of the average Nigerian household.
Fortunately, these discoveries may have no future in Nigerian cuisine as recent weeks have ushered in a decline in tomato prices, offering some relief to the average Nigerian. What remains, however, is the price volatility of food items in Nigeria, which has rendered several food items out of the reach of many. Moreover, while the price of tomatoes has declined, their seasonal nature continues to cause price fluctuations and affect their availability.
Food inflation has become a glaring reality in Nigeria. According to a 2024 report by the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics, the price of 1kg of tomatoes skyrocketed by 320.67 per cent year-on-year, rising from ₦547.28 in June 2023 to ₦2,302.26 in June 2024. Similarly, other staple foods suffered tremendous price increases in the same period. The price of yam surged by 295.79 per cent, Irish potatoes by 288.50 per cent, plantain by 224.36 per cent, beans by 252.13 per cent, and rice by 179.97 per cent—underscoring the rising cost of basic food items. Nigerians, known for their vocal nature, spurred the government into action, leading to a decrease in the cost of a bag of rice in April. However, the relief was short-lived, as the prices of goods have since climbed back up.
THE ROOT OF THE ISSUE
Poor Pest Control Capacity
In 2022, Nigeria was the eighth largest tomato producer in the world, achieving a production volume of 3.6 million tonnes. Major production states include Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa, Katsina, and Plateau, due to their temperature and well-drained soil. However, local tomato supply is heavily supplemented by tomato paste importation due to wastage and post-harvest losses. Also, tomato yields in Nigeria are susceptible to seasonal fluctuations, with higher yields during the rainy season and reduced output in the dry season. However, even during peak seasons, factors such as high night temperatures and increased disease prevalence, also cause reduced fruit sets.
Yet, there is a deeper cause for the 2024 tomato price surge. According to an update on X the minister of agriculture, Senator Abubakar Kyari, expressed that tomato consumers across Nigeria felt the sting of a notorious pest known as tomato ebola. The tomato ebola infestation is not a new adversary as it has been making its rounds for years, wreaking havoc on Nigeria’s tomato yield. Despite the recurring nature of this problem, effective solutions to prevent and curb its impact remain elusive.
Tomato ebola, also known as tuta absoluta, or the tomato leafminer, is an insect that attacks various parts of the tomato plant, including the stems, buds, and fruits. The larvae cause damage by tunnelling into the plant, which reduces the quality of the tomatoes and lowers the overall yield. This pest thrives in warm climates and can quickly develop resistance to pesticides, making it a persistent and challenging problem for tomato farmers.
In 2016, Nigeria’s tomato industry was significantly affected for the first time by this major threat, leading to a catastrophic 80 per cent reduction in tomato yields across the country, causing prices to increase by 400 per cent within three months and the price of a wholesale basket of tomatoes to increase from ₦1,500 to ₦42,000 .This pest has continued to attack tomato farms in Nigeria over the years, causing persistent damage to the industry. In 2023, this recurring pest drove tomato prices up by 363 per cent over just four months. For instance, in May 2023, the price of a basket of tomatoes at Dei-Dei market in the Federal Capital Territory increased from ₦15,000 to between ₦30,000 and ₦32,000. Similarly, in Enugu State, the price rose from between ₦36,000 and ₦45,000 in April 2023 to between ₦55,000 and ₦60,000 in May 2023. This caused severe crop loss amid inadequate government response, resulting in an estimated ₦1.3 billion in losses.
Given the recurring nature of this pest, it is puzzling that a decisive solution has yet to be implemented. If one were to point fingers, it would be hard to direct them solely at the government, considering the highly privatized nature of Nigeria’s agricultural industry. The major suppliers in the sector, smallholder farmers, produce up to 80 per cent of Nigeria’s agricultural output and are responsible for a significant portion of the country’s food supply. However, we cannot rule out the fact that the repeated nature of this infestation should have incited more proactive measures from the government including increased funding for agricultural research to develop more resistant tomato varieties, stronger pest control initiatives, easing access to affordable pesticides, and training programmes for farmers on best practices to prevent and manage such outbreaks.
Given the current economic strain, it’s hard not to wonder: Why was this not prevented?
Trouble in the Fields
Insecurity has long cast a dark shadow over Nigeria’s agricultural sector, wreaking havoc on food production and prices. One major source of this insecurity is the frequent clashes between farmers and herdsmen. As herdsmen search for grazing land for their cattle, these animals often encroach on farmlands, consuming crops meant for human consumption. These incidents result in significant losses for farmers, who see months of hard work destroyed overnight. The consequences are not just economic but also violent with many farmers sadly losing their lives and others understandably abandoning their profession.
Following a growing demand to prohibit free grazing, Nigerian lawmakers have raised the matter in the National Assembly. Thus, a 2024 bill to ban open grazing and establish designated grazing areas, sponsored by Senator Titus Zam, representing Benue North West, has now passed its second reading. This legislation, if enacted, could mark a turning point in addressing the longstanding issue of farm invasions. Proponents of the bill believe that by creating specific areas for grazing, the government can mitigate the destructive clashes and foster a more harmonious coexistence between farmers and herders. According to legislators in Benue and Taraba states where anti-grazing laws have been successfully enacted, the open grazing prohibition is the only solution to ease the tensions between farmers and herders. This view has been strongly echoed by farmers in Benue State, eager to safeguard their harvests and source of income.
However, the path to implementing such policies may be fraught with challenges. Free grazing has been a traditional practice for years, extolled by many herding communities, and any shift would require active implementation. Additionally, it may be time for the government to establish dedicated farming zones in Nigeria with enhanced protection measures and robust road networks to secure farmlands and streamline agricultural operations. This would not only prevent herdsmen encroachment but also incentivize more Nigerians to venture into the sector.
Beyond, herdsmen-farmer clashes, other insecurity challenges persist. Particularly in the northern regions, terrorism has had a severe impact on farming activities. The Boko Haram insurgency has caused widespread disruption of farming activities in affected states in Nigeria, resulting in abandoned fields and under-cultivation. Frequent attacks on markets and critical transport routes further impede food distribution—driving up prices and causing severe shortages. This food crisis has rippled out to neighbouring countries such as Cameroon and Chad, where regional food supplies have been disrupted and prices have skyrocketed. Some farmers have been displaced from rural areas by terrorists and others coerced into growing food exclusively for their captors, stripping them of their livelihoods. Additionally, abductions and extortion have affected farmers in states beyond the northern region. This widespread insecurity has undeniably and significantly disrupted food production across the country.
The Naira’s Devaluation
Since the federal government’s decision to float the naira in 2023, the naira has plummeted 70 per cent against the dollar from around $1/₦853 as of December 2023 to $1/₦1,657.36 as of writing. This significant drop has driven up production costs as imported agricultural inputs and machinery are much more expensive. These higher expenses for essentials like fertilizers and farming equipment inevitably trickle down, affecting the prices of food items grown locally. and in turn, contribute to escalating food prices for consumers.
Beyond agricultural inputs, the currency devaluation could lead to rising costs in other factors of production, affecting the broader food supply chain. For instance, inflationary pressures facilitated increased demands for higher wages and the eventual approval of a new minimum wage in Nigeria, which might affect farmers’ ability to afford extra help. Rental and leasehold properties commonly used for farmland and storage facilities may also become expensive, as landlords seek to offset the harsh financial situation by augmenting their income through higher rents. This sporadic increase in operational expenses could limit farmers’ capacity to process and store food, contributing to the surge in prices even for locally produced goods, leaving consumers to bear the brunt of these escalating costs.
Fuelling Food Inflation
Compounding the food inflation issue in Nigeria are soaring transportation costs largely due to the removal of fuel subsidy by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration. The subsidy had previously ensured that transportation costs and autonomous power generation across the country were fairly affordable.
As a result of this presidential decision, agricultural processes and resources, from operating farm machinery to the transportation of goods from rural farms to urban centres have become much more expensive. Nigeria’s inadequate road infrastructure exacerbates this problem, as poor road conditions lead to longer travel times and higher fuel consumption. This situation particularly affects perishable goods like fruits and vegetables, which require quick and efficient transportation to prevent spoilage and ensure they reach consumers in optimal condition.
The lack of a diversified agricultural supply chain system further intensifies the problem. With limited alternatives for transporting goods, farmers and distributors are heavily reliant on road transportation. This dependence means that any increase in fuel costs or transportation inefficiencies directly impacts the availability and price of food. A more diversified supply chain, incorporating rail and water transport options, could help mitigate these issues, but such infrastructure developments are still lacking.
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EXPLORING SOLUTIONS
One can only imagine the profound impact of food inflation on Nigerian families. Missing key food items in meals has become a harsh reality, forcing many to substitute balanced meals with carbohydrate-dense options. According to the World Food Program. an estimated 26.5 million Nigerians were plunged into acute hunger by August 2024. This is the most extreme form of undernourishment over a definable period often linked to crises and natural disasters.
Subsistence Farming
Subsistence farming has emerged as a prominent proposal to counter Nigeria’s food inflation challenge and has even been advocated by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who has been encouraging Nigerian women to embrace farming as a means to ensure food security and instil a food production culture at the family level. Speaking at the State House Residence Abuja in July 2024, she emphasized that ‘a little effort on the part of every Nigerian, especially women will go a long way in ameliorating food insufficiency in the country.’
By boosting local production, subsistence farming could potentially lower household expenses and increase food sovereignty. However, the practicalities of subsistence farming, especially in urban settings, pose significant challenges. Urban areas often struggle with limited space and less-than-ideal soil quality. For instance, Nigerian staples like yam and rice, require substantial space and specific soil conditions for their growth, which can be particularly challenging in a typical backyard garden. Additionally, transitioning to a subsistence model demands considerable investment in knowledge, resources, and infrastructure to support home gardening and small-scale farming which are largely unavailable to the average Nigerian.
Despite these difficulties, the push for subsistence farming represents a proactive attempt to address Nigeria’s food security issues amid other prevailing issues. Whether this approach can be scaled and adapted to urban environments to offer a sustainable solution to rising food prices remains to be seen.
Genetically Modified Crops and Organisms
Nigeria’s growing population and the multifaceted nature of its food crisis signal that long-lasting and innovative solutions are crucial to address the root causes and ensure food security. One promising potential solution is the adoption of genetically modified crops and organisms (GMOs). Expert institutions like the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture have endorsed genetically altered crops and organisms for Nigeria’s agricultural industry for several years. They claim these modifications can help address the country’s critical food production issues, such as reducing the use of harmful pesticides, lowering production costs, and increasing crop yields.
Despite their potential, GMOs face significant opposition rooted majorly in concerns about health risks, toxicity and safety. It has also been argued that the technology could have unforeseen consequences on human health and biodiversity. The distrust for genetically modified foods is hinged on their recent introduction, contrasting with conventional foods that have a long history of safe consumption. Yet, even traditional breeding methods can alter food characteristics, sometimes for better, sometimes for worse with food authorities tasked with confirming the safety of these new varieties.
Despite these concerns, rigorous studies on GMOs have shown no evidence of toxicity or adverse health effects. Scientists at the National Institute of Toxicological Research in Seoul, Korea fed rats GMO and non-GMO potatoes, finding no differences in organ health. Similar results were recorded by scientists in the Institute of Nutrition in Beijing, China for GMO tomatoes and sweet peppers, which demonstrated no health impacts, even at microscopic levels. However, research on humans remains theoretical due to ethical reasons, though GMOs are widely introduced in many countries.
Nevertheless, public scepticism remains the overpowering barrier to GMO adoption with many approaching GMO recommendations with caution, fuelled by fears and misinformation. Hence, the integration of GMOs into the agricultural sector will require careful navigation of public concerns and rigorous research. Highlighting the scientific evidence supporting the safety and benefits of GM crops could help shift public opinion and pave the way for their acceptance.
Bridging the Infrastructure Gap
Another vital strategy for reducing food inflation is improving agricultural infrastructure cutting across supply chains, storage facilities and machinery. Nigeria’s agricultural value chain is currently in an abysmal state. Poor roads and outdated transportation networks create a bottleneck in moving produce across distribution lines, leading to significant post-harvest losses. Approximately 50 per cent of fresh agricultural produce in Nigeria is lost during the post-harvest stage. Investing in better infrastructure could transform this scenario. Improved roads, modern transportation systems, and enhanced storage facilities would streamline the movement of goods from farms to markets leading to reduced transportation costs, less food spoilage, and a more reliable supply chain. This means more produce reaches consumers, and prices stay in check.
Embracing Technology
An underutilized channel for enhancing Nigeria’s agricultural sector lies in leveraging technology to aggregate the supply chain. Accessible technology such as mobile applications connecting farmers with wholesalers, retailers or even direct consumers more efficiently can minimize post-harvest losses and reduce transportation costs. A digital approach could also be leveraged to enhance access to crucial resources, such as equipment leasing ensuring that rural farmers can optimize productivity and profitability. Aggregating the supply chain through technology would create a more transparent, efficient, and resilient agricultural network, improving overall food security and economic returns for smallholder farmers.
Additionally, seed and species sourcing and distribution systems have a crucial role to play, especially in combating pests and other biological factors affecting agricultural yield. Currently, most farmers in Africa depend on informal seed exchanges, Locally sourced and non-commercial seeds often lead to inconsistent quality and availability. On the other hand, formal seed systems, which should ideally ensure high-quality seed distribution, face significant hurdles. Issues such as slow variety registration, outdated policies, poor infrastructure, and lack of investment hamper the efficient spread of biotech seeds. Addressing these obstacles through policy reforms and infrastructure improvements is essential for achieving consistent and resilient agricultural productivity. Recognizing and supporting informal seed systems can enhance smallholder farmers’ access to quality seeds, boosting yields and improving rural food security.
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FOOD FOR THOUGHT
The tomato price hike that struck the Nigerian market this year, transforming a once-affordable food staple into a costly commodity, underscores the vulnerability of the agricultural sector in Nigeria. Moreover, given the troubling history of the notorious tomato ebola invasions, the risk of recurrence is alarmingly real.
Yet, tomatoes are only part of the bigger story of food insecurity in Nigeria. The prices for essential food items in Nigeria have skyrocketed, making it increasingly difficult for many families to afford them. Basic foodstuffs such as rice, beans, yams, and potatoes have experienced significant price increases due to a combination of factors, including inflation, supply chain disruptions and poor agricultural yields. The recent minimum wage increase, while a step in the right direction, does little for those still grappling with unemployment and unstable incomes. For many, food has become a luxury rather than a basic necessity.
Addressing this crisis calls for a concerted effort to enhance agricultural practices, invest in infrastructure, and support our farmers. By uniting the government, private sector, and civil society, we can work towards ensuring that food security becomes a reality for all Nigerians⎈
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