In a market survey conducted on Tuesday, food prices in Abuja and Nasarawa have been soaring, causing frustration among residents.

Daniel Chukwuekezie, the chairman of garri sellers in Masaka market, Nasarawa, stated that the price of yellow garri has increased from N8,000 to N22,000 per bag, while white garri has risen from N7,000 to N17,000 per bag.

Mr Chukwuekezie attributed the price hike to transportation costs, which have impacted his purchasing power.

Another trader, Ezekiel Okpa, mentioned that a bag of beans has gone up from N27,000 to N49,000, and Nigerian rice has increased from N15,000 to N20,000 to N35,000 per bag, while foreign rice has risen from N30,000 to N44,000 per bag.

In the Nyanya market, Joy Peter reported that palm oil prices have increased from N7,000 to N24,000 for 25 litres, and groundnut oil has risen from N12,000 to N32,000 for the same quantity.

She added that four litres of palm oil are now sold for N7,200 instead of N3,200, and the price of four litres of groundnut oil ranges from N5,500 to N10,000, depending on the product.

Grace Ukpong shared that palm oil has increased from N10,000 to N25,000, while groundnut oil has risen from N15,500 to N32,000, depending on the type.

The rising food price has made it frustrating for traders to restock their shops.

Abubakar Musa, a rice seller at Mararaba market, noted that the prices of foreign and local rice have increased, causing many people to opt for local rice.

Janet Ibrahim, who sells maize at Aso Pada market, stated that the price per ‘mudu’ of maize has risen from N150 to N400, and a bag of maize now costs N25,000 instead of the previous prices of N15,000 to N10,000.

Various traders attributed the price increases to factors such as the onset of the planting and rainy seasons, the impact of the crisis in certain parts of the country, and the suspension of supplies by major food item suppliers due to widespread insecurity in northern and eastern Nigeria.

(NAN)