The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has reported a significant rise in the prices of staple foods such as rice, garri, tomatoes, beans, and yams in April 2024. This information was disclosed in the NBS’s “Selected Food Prices Watch” report released on Friday.
According to the report, the average price of 1kg of local rice saw a dramatic increase of 155.93% from N546.76 in April 2023 to N1,399.34 in April 2024. Month-on-month, the price rose by 3.47% from N1,340.74 recorded in March 2024.
Similarly, the average price of 1kg of white garri increased by 134.98% year-on-year from N362.50 in April 2023 to N851.81 in April 2024, and by 13.59% month-on-month from N749.89 in March 2024.
Tomatoes also saw a substantial hike in prices. The average price of 1kg of tomatoes rose by 131.58% from N485.10 in April 2023 to N1,123.41 in April 2024, with a month-on-month increase of 17.06% from N959.68 in March 2024.
Beans prices followed a similar trend. The price of 1kg of brown beans surged by 125.43% from N615.65 in April 2023 to N1,387.90 in April 2024, marking a 12.44% increase from N1,234.40 in March 2024.
Yams, a staple in many Nigerian households, saw their average price for 1kg rise by 154.19% year-on-year from N444.69 in April 2023 to N1,130.37 in April 2024, and a month-on-month increase of 5.76% from N1,068.78 in March 2024.
State and Regional Analysis
The report highlighted significant regional variations in food prices. In April 2024, the highest average price of 1kg of local rice was recorded in Niger at N1,785.47, while the lowest was in Benue at N993.72. Bayelsa had the highest average price of 1kg of white garri at N1,095.26, compared to Benue at N494.47.
Delta recorded the highest average price of 1kg of tomatoes at N1,851.19, while Zamfara had the lowest at N547.22. Abuja saw the highest price for 1kg of brown beans at N2,288.36, with Yobe reporting the lowest at N818.03. The highest price for 1kg of yam tuber was in Cross River at N1,797.15, and the lowest in Bauchi at N638.64.
Regional Price Trends
The South-West region recorded the highest average price of 1kg of local rice at N1,615.21, followed by the South-South at N1,564.85. The lowest price was in the North-West at N1,163.13. For white garri, the highest prices were in the South-South and South-West at N1,031.19 and N982.42, respectively, with the North-West having the lowest at N681.77.
The South-South also had the highest average price of 1kg of tomatoes at N1,689.40, followed by the South-West at N1,429.06, while the North-West recorded the lowest at N615.54. The North-Central and South-South had the highest average prices of 1kg of brown beans at N1,594.84 and N1,579.64, respectively, while the North-West recorded the lowest price at N966.90.
The NBS report underscores the escalating cost of living in Nigeria, driven by significant increases in the prices of essential food items.
