Sallah: Households groan as tomatoes turn stew into luxury

As Nigeria braces for the Sallah celebration, a sharp increase in the prices of tomatoes and peppers is adding significant financial strain to households, food vendors, and traders nationwide. These once-staple ingredients have become prohibitively expensive, forcing many families to drastically reduce their purchases or seek out cheaper alternatives.

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One, two, three, four… After counting her money, she pulled out N7,000 and quietly reduced the quantity of tomatoes she intended to buy.

Rukayat Bello, a shopper at Mile 12 Market, expressed dismay after finding that just five pieces of tomatoes cost N1,000. Her initial plan to buy enough for the festive period was immediately curtailed, as the cost consumed nearly half her food budget. "Before, I used to buy baskets during festive periods without thinking too much about it, but now everything is too expensive," she lamented, highlighting the shift from abundance to scarcity for basic cooking ingredients.

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I could not believe that just five pieces of tomatoes would cost N1,000. Before, I used to buy baskets during festive periods without thinking too much about it, but now everything is too expensive. We are just managing to cook what we can afford.

Esther Inyang, a mother of four, has resorted to mixing fresh produce with partially spoiled items to save money. She had hoped to prepare a special Sallah meal for her children but found the rising cost of tomatoes and peppers made it impossible. "Buying tomatoes and peppers now feels like buying gold," Inyang stated, reflecting the sentiment that common kitchen essentials have transformed into luxury goods. The current economic realities mean that what once cost N3,000 for a decent pot of stew now barely covers the necessary ingredients.

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I intended to cook well for my children during this Sallah, but had to reduce the quantity because tomatoes alone consumed most of my budget.