The prices of perishable foods in Nigeria have dropped by about 50% as the nationwide hunger protest continues, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports. The protest, using the hashtag #EndBadGovernanceinNigeria, is set to conclude on August 10, aiming to highlight the economic hardship facing Nigerians.
At Ile-epo food market in the Alimosho/Agege area of Lagos State, traders confirmed the price drop due to low patronage. Mr. Rabiu Aliu, a tomato trader, reported that a 50kg basket of tomatoes now sells for N40,000 to N50,000, down from N80,000 to N100,000 two weeks ago. Similarly, a 25kg basket sells for N18,000 to N19,000, compared to N30,000 to N40,000 two weeks ago.
Mrs. Mukit Afolabi, another trader, noted that the price of tomatoes fell further on the first day of the protest, with a 5kg basket selling for N4,000, down from N12,000 two weeks ago. However, the price of scotch bonnet pepper remains high, with a bag selling for N84,000, up from N40,000 on Monday.
Mr. Ibrahim Ahmed, a foodstuff trader, also observed a decrease in the prices of rice and beans, with a 50kg bag of short grain rice now selling for N73,000, down from N83,000 last month, and honey beans dropping to N10,000 per paint bucket from N12,000 in July.
Conversely, groundnut oil and palm oil prices have surged. Mrs. Hope Osagie reported that a 25-liter container of groundnut oil now sells for N60,000, up from N38,000 last month, and a 25-liter container of palm oil is now N36,000, up from N27,000 in July.
Buyers expressed relief over the price drops. Mrs. Anuoluwa Olayinka said she bought as much as she could afford due to the lower prices, while Mrs. Ada Uzor linked the price decrease to the ongoing protest.
