Nigeria is currently contending with an alarming rise in food inflation, driven by soaring prices of essential food items throughout 2023. As millions of households struggle to keep up with the rising cost of living, staple commodities like rice, bread, yam, and eggs have recorded unprecedented price hikes, further intensifying food insecurity across the country.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), food inflation surged to 30.64% in September 2023, up from 29.34% in August. This trend reflects persistent pressure on household incomes, especially for low and middle-income families who spend a significant portion of their earnings on food.
Prices of Common Staples Climb Sharply
Data reveals substantial increases in the cost of basic food items. For instance, a kilogram of local rice, a household staple, rose to over ₦800 in September 2023—compared to ₦550 just months earlier. Similarly, the price of a loaf of bread jumped from ₦500 to over ₦750 in many urban areas, while a crate of eggs now sells for nearly ₦3,000 in some markets.
Yam, a key carbohydrate source, also witnessed steep inflation. A medium-sized tuber, which previously sold for around ₦500, now goes for ₦900 to ₦1,200, depending on location. Other items such as garri, vegetable oil, and beans are not exempt, with consistent upward trends observed nationwide.
Economic Pressures Behind the Surge
The rising food prices stem from several overlapping factors. Insecurity in major food-producing regions has disrupted agricultural activities, especially in the North-West and North-East. Farmer-herder conflicts, armed banditry, and kidnappings have prevented farmers from cultivating or harvesting crops freely.
Additionally, climate change-related events such as erratic rainfall and widespread flooding have led to crop failures and lower yields. The impact of fuel subsidy removal and the naira devaluation has also compounded the cost of transportation and food imports, further pushing prices up.
Transportation costs remain a major contributor to food price hikes, as goods from rural production areas must be transported to cities under increasingly expensive fuel and logistics conditions. Traders often pass these added costs to consumers, leading to higher retail prices.
Impact on Households and Food Security
The consequences of this inflationary pressure are far-reaching. Many families have been forced to reduce the quantity and quality of their meals, leading to nutritional deficiencies, especially among children. The World Food Programme and other humanitarian agencies have expressed concerns over the growing risk of hunger and malnutrition in Nigeria, warning that millions may face food insecurity if the trend continues unchecked.
Urban poor populations are particularly affected, as their dependence on purchased food makes them more vulnerable to price volatility. In contrast, rural dwellers, although also affected by rising prices, may still rely on subsistence farming to mitigate the impact.
Urgent Need for Intervention
Experts and stakeholders have urged the Nigerian government to implement robust policies to tackle inflation. Proposed measures include increased investment in agriculture, improved security in rural areas, expansion of irrigation systems to combat weather-related challenges, and improved supply chain logistics.
Analysts also recommend temporary food subsidies or support programs to cushion the effect of inflation on the most vulnerable citizens. Expanding access to affordable credit and inputs for farmers could help boost food production and stabilize prices over the medium term.
As 2023 draws to a close, the hope remains that timely intervention and coordinated policy efforts can prevent the situation from worsening. Without such action, Nigeria risks deeper food insecurity and broader economic hardship for millions of its citizens.
