(DDM) – Food prices in Abuja have recorded a slight drop following increased food supply across markets, but residents say the relief is hardly felt as costs remain high for basic staples.
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that although the price of major commodities such as rice, beans, and cooking oil has declined compared to last year, many households in the capital still struggle to afford them due to persistent inflation and rising living expenses.
A market survey shows that a 50kg bag of local rice, which sold for as high as ₦75,000 in 2024, now sells between ₦63,000 and ₦65,000.
A small bucket, known locally as a ‘mudu,’ sells for ₦2,200, down from ₦2,500.
Similarly, a bag of foreign rice now sells for ₦80,000–₦85,000, while a ‘mudu’ goes for between ₦2,000 and ₦3,500 depending on the market.
The downward adjustment also extends to other staples.
A bag of white beans now costs ₦95,000, while brown beans sell for about ₦110,000, down from ₦130,000–₦140,000 recorded last year.
DDM observed that prices of cooking oil have also eased slightly, with a 25-litre keg of groundnut oil selling around ₦73,000 and palm oil going for about ₦65,000.
However, traders and consumers say the reduction is marginal and does not translate into real relief.
“We still buy at high prices from suppliers because diesel, transport, and packaging costs have all increased,” lamented Musa Garba, a trader at Dutse Market.
Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, attributed the slight price drop to government programmes such as the NAGS Agro-Pocket Programme.
He said the initiative boosted local production by injecting nearly 500,000 metric tons of wheat, maize, cassava, and other crops into the market.
“This ramped-up production is what’s responsible for the drop in food prices,” the minister said.
Despite that, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reports that while Nigeria’s headline inflation rate eased slightly to 20.12 percent in August 2025, food prices in Abuja remain up to 20 percent higher than the national average.
For most residents, the so-called improvement offers little comfort.
“Before, I could buy a ‘mudu’ of rice every two days, but now I have to manage what I buy for a whole week,” said Aisha Abdullahi, a mother of four living in Kubwa.
Peter Dama, National Chairman of the Rice Millers Association of Nigeria (RIMAN), told DDM that farmers continue to face unsustainable production costs despite government claims of progress.
“Farmers are producing at very high costs, yet they are being asked to lower prices without any subsidies,” Dama said.
He stressed the need for dialogue between government and stakeholders to address challenges such as fertiliser costs, transportation, and energy prices.
“If the government sits with associations, we can find realistic strategies. But imposing policies without adequate support won’t solve the problem,” he added.
Economist Daniel Onyejuwa told DDM that the president’s directive for price reduction was “more political than economic.”
He argued that inflation in Nigeria is largely cost-driven, linked to production inefficiencies, forex instability, and infrastructure decay.
“Transportation and logistics costs are the biggest drivers of food inflation,” Onyejuwa explained.
“When trucks spend days on bad roads, it adds to the final cost consumers must pay.”
He further noted that Nigeria’s rice import embargo has created supply gaps that local production cannot yet fill.
“Until the gap between demand and supply is closed, prices will remain relatively high,” he added.
Experts agree that while the government celebrates temporary relief, sustainable solutions depend on inclusive agricultural reforms, rural infrastructure upgrades, and energy cost management.
As Abuja residents enter another harvest season, many still struggle to balance optimism with reality.
For now, the slight price drop may signal progress, but everyday life for millions remains defined by tight budgets and rising living costs.