Amid the ongoing nationwide #EndBadGovernanceinNigeria protest, some perishable food prices in Lagos have reportedly dropped by as much as 50%. The protest, which began on August 1, 2024, is aimed at drawing attention to the economic hardships faced by Nigerians, and is scheduled to continue until August 10.
In separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday, traders and buyers at the Ile-Epo food market in the Alimosho/Agege area of Lagos confirmed the significant drop in prices. The protest has led to a decrease in market activity, which in turn has caused food prices to fall.
Rabiu Aliu, a tomato trader at Ile-Epo market, explained that the price of some perishable items like tomatoes and chili peppers has decreased significantly due to low customer turnout. “A 50kg basket of tomatoes now sells for between ₦40,000 and ₦50,000, compared to ₦80,000 to ₦100,000 just two weeks ago,” Aliu noted. He added that traders are forced to lower prices to avoid losses since there are fewer buyers.
Another trader, Mukit Afolabi, confirmed that the hunger protest has contributed to the price drop. He mentioned that on the first day of the protest, tomatoes were even cheaper because there were no buyers. However, Afolabi pointed out that some items, like Scotch bonnet peppers, have become more expensive due to supply issues. “A bag of Scotch bonnet pepper, which sold for ₦40,000 on Monday, now costs ₦84,000 because no new deliveries have been made since the protest began,” Afolabi explained.
Ibrahim Ahmed, a foodstuff trader, also reported a reduction in the price of rice and beans. “A 50kg bag of short grain rice now sells for ₦73,000, down from ₦83,000 last month,” he said. However, he noted that prices for groundnut oil and palm oil have increased sharply, with a 25-liter container of groundnut oil now selling for ₦60,000, up from ₦38,000 a month ago.
Buyers expressed mixed reactions to the price fluctuations. Anuoluwa Olayinka, a shopper at the market, expressed excitement over the drop in prices, saying she bought as much as she could afford. “There are just a few people in the market today, which is unusual for a Friday, so traders seem eager to sell off their goods to minimize losses,” she observed.
Another buyer, Ada Uzor, commented on the unpredictability of food prices, attributing the slight drop in some items to the ongoing protest. Despite the uncertainty, residents in Lagos are finding ways to cope with the economic challenges, even taking to the streets to perform the traditional bata dance in a show of resilience and cultural pride.
