The average price of major food commodities in Nigeria, such as rice, tomatoes, garri and beans, increased in May, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported.
This was stated by the NBS in the report “Selected Food Price Watch (May 2024)” published on its website.
In recent years, food prices have increased across Nigeria as farmers abandon their farms due to insecurity.
The situation deteriorated last year after the Bola Tinubu administration eliminated subsidies on gasoline, which many Nigerians use to fuel their vehicles and electricity generators.
In its ‘Selected Food Price Observation’ data for May 2024, released on Monday, the NBS said the average price of 1kg of rice (local) stood at N1,608.89.
This, he said, indicates a 189.79 percent year-on-year price increase from N555.18 recorded in May 2023 and a 14.98 percent month-on-month price increase from N1,399.34. in April 2024.
According to the bureau, the average price of 1kg of brown beans increased by 219.05 percent year-on-year from N629.75 in May last year (2023) to N2,009.23 in May 2024.
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On a monthly basis, the NBS said the average price of this item increased by 44.77 percent from N1,387.90 in April 2024.
Similarly, he said, the average price of 1kg of tomato increased by 196.92 percent year-on-year from N498.34 in May 2023 to N1,479.69 in May 2024.
“Month on month, it increased by 31.71 percent from N1,123.41 in April 2024.”
The NBS explained that the average price of 1kg of garri increased by 200.12 percent year-on-year from N371.42 in May 2023 to N1,114.72 in May 2024, while there was an increase of 30.87 percent monthly. -monthly.
The price of a tuber of yam, a substitute for rice in many Nigerian households, increased by 189.20 percent year-on-year, from 457.25 naira in May 2023 to 1,322.36 naira in May 2024. On a monthly basis, it increased by 16 .98 percent from N1,130.37 in April 2024.
state
At the state level, the highest average price of 1kg of rice (local) was recorded in Kogi State at N2,528.84, while the lowest was recorded in Benue State at N1,013.59.
He said the highest average price of 1kg of brown beans (sold in bulk) was recorded in Plateau at N2,855, while the lowest was recorded in Kebbi State at N1,171.21.
According to the office, Rivers State recorded the highest average price of 1kg of tomato at N2,100.12, while Katsina recorded the lowest price at N775.02.
He noted that Gombe recorded the highest average price of 1kg of white garri sold in bulk at N1,613.29, while the lowest was recorded in Kwara at N825.70.
Furthermore, the report said area-wise analysis showed that the lowest price of 1kg of local rice sold in bulk was the highest in the North East at N1,821.77, followed by the South West at N1,698.53, while the southeast recorded the lowest average price. at 1,328.44 Naira.
“The average price of 1kg of brown beans (sold in bulk) was highest in the North Central and South-South at N2,574.52 and N2,293.03 respectively, while the lowest was recorded in the North West with 1,379.97 naira. .
“The South-South recorded the highest average price of 1kg of tomato at N2,053.59, followed by the South-East at N1,643.76, while the lowest was recorded in the North-East at N1,050.84.
“The South West and North East recorded the highest average price of 1kg of white garri sold in bulk at N1,294.51 and N1,138.62 respectively, while the lowest was recorded in the North Central at N1,021.20 ”says the report. saying.