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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Economy & Trade

FCT residents decry rising cost of tomatoes

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • - Residents and traders in Nigeria's Federal Capital Territory are decrying the sharp increase in tomato prices, which is straining household budgets and business operations.
  • Traders attribute the surge to seasonal scarcity, post-harvest losses, and escalating transportation costs from farms to markets.
  • The price of a big basket of tomatoes has nearly doubled, forcing consumers to buy smaller quantities or seek alternatives, impacting low-income earners most severely.

Residents and traders in Nigeria's Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are expressing deep concern over a dramatic rise in tomato prices. The escalating cost is creating significant difficulties for both consumers and sellers, impacting daily life and livelihoods.

Customers think we are ripping them off and making a lot of profit from our sales, but that is not the case.

— Philomena BasseyA tomato seller at Garki New Market explaining the impact of rising costs on her business.

Market surveys reveal a stark increase, with a large basket of tomatoes that cost between N85,000 and N90,000 a few weeks ago now selling for N150,000 to N170,000. Vegetable seller Malam Isah Ado highlighted the challenges, noting that the surge is due to seasonal scarcity, losses after harvest, and the high cost of transporting produce from farms.

Philomena Bassey, a tomato seller at Garki New Market, explained that while customers perceive high profits, the reality involves factoring in increased transportation expenses. "We buy these tomatoes sometimes cheap from the farms where they are produced, but by the time they get to Abuja, the price will have gone up," she said. This forces sellers to adjust prices, making the product less accessible.

We buy these tomatoes sometimes cheap from the farms where they are produced, but by the time they get to Abuja, the price will have gone up.

— Philomena BasseyA tomato seller explaining the factors contributing to the high price of tomatoes in Abuja.

The scarcity and high prices are particularly affecting low-income households. Mummy Juli, a small-scale trader, noted that a small paint rubber of tomatoes, previously sold for N4,000 to N4,500, now costs N8,000 to N10,000. Consequently, she can no longer sell portions for less than N1,000, a significant jump from N100, leading to reduced sales. "I have to keep managing and hope for the best," she stated.

The scarcity has made tomatoes very expensive to buy, thus forcing us to also adjust our prices.

— Mummy JuliA small-scale trader describing the market conditions and their impact on pricing.

Consumers are also feeling the pinch. Mrs. Angela Ikenna, a mother of two, now buys tomatoes only for a day or two, a stark change from purchasing enough for a week. Mr. Moses Sunday, a nurse, lamented that the increased cost of tomatoes exacerbates the existing economic pressures in the country. Residents like Mrs. Badia Muhammad are forced to opt for cheaper alternatives, as tomatoes are a staple in most meals.

I have to keep managing and hope for the best.

— Mummy JuliA small-scale trader expressing her struggle with the rising cost of tomatoes.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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