Food prices in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, have seen a slight decline in recent weeks, yet many residents say the change has not improved their daily lives.
Despite reports of easing inflation, households continue to grapple with weak purchasing power, stagnant wages, and high living costs.
A market survey across major trading hubs such as Kubwa, Dutse, and Orange Market shows that while prices of tomatoes, beans, and rice have dropped, the reduction has done little to ease the strain on families.
Traders confirmed that while some commodities now sell for less, others have risen slightly, creating a mixed picture of food affordability in the Federal Capital Territory.
At the Orange Market, the price of a basket of tomatoes now ranges between N5,000 and N6,500, down from N7,500 last month. Pepper has also seen a notable fall to about N1,500 per dustbin basket, compared to N3,000 earlier.
However, onions now sell for between N4,000 and N4,500, while pepper and yam prices have seen slight increases across other markets.
In Kubwa, a bag of Big Bull rice now costs N55,000, a sharp drop from N95,000, while a 50kg bag of Optimum rice goes for N56,000. The price of beans and yams also fell, with traders attributing the trend to seasonal supply improvements.
The News Chronicle gathered that many Abuja residents remain skeptical about these supposed gains.
They argue that while food prices may have adjusted, stagnant salaries and rising transport and utility costs have nullified any real benefits.
Mr. Francis Murna, a father of three, lamented that “even with the reduction, the money is still not enough to meet basic needs after paying rent and school fees.”
He urged the federal government to raise wages and introduce economic relief measures to cushion citizens from persistent inflation.
Recent data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) shows that Nigeria’s headline inflation eased to 18.02% in September 2025 from 20.12% in August.
Food inflation dropped to 16.87% from 37.77% a year earlier. However, many residents say these numbers do not reflect the reality of daily survival, as affordability — not just prices — remains the true test of economic recovery.
