Maiduguri, April 5, 2025 (Naija247news) – In a significant shift for consumers, staple food prices across North-East Nigeria have plunged for the first time since the removal of fuel subsidies in 2023, a Naija247news investigation has revealed.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!A market survey across Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe states showed that prices of major staples like maize, rice, guinea corn, and beans have dropped sharply, with beans witnessing a crash of over 50% in some markets.
In Jimeta Market, Adamawa, a 100kg bag of maize now sells for between N40,000 and N45,000, down from N65,000 in late 2024. Local rice, once priced between N60,000 and N65,000, has dropped to N45,000. The price of a 100kg bag of beans has plummeted from N190,000 to N95,000.
In Yobe, local rice has fallen to as low as N40,000 per 100kg bag, while beans now go for N85,000, down from N105,000. Sorghum dropped to N38,000, and millet to N46,000. A basket of tomatoes that sold for N20,000 in 2024 is now priced between N6,500 and N8,500.
Borno State reflects a similar trend. At Monday Market in Maiduguri, a 50kg bag of local rice now costs N64,000, down from N80,000 in 2024. Maize has dropped from N55,000 to N38,000.
Traders attribute the crash in prices to multiple factors, including increased supply due to enhanced local farming, humanitarian food distribution during Ramadan, and reduced bulk purchases by NGOs following the exit of major donors like USAID.
“The price crash is real. Hoarders have released their grains due to low demand and cash scarcity,” said Malam Isah Bala, a trader in Adamawa.
However, prices of yam, Irish potatoes, and livestock have surged. At Ganye Yam Market, 100 pieces of yam now sell for about N200,000—up from N80,000 in 2024. A single tuber sells for up to N2,500. Cattle prices in Ngurore, Mubi, and Ganye markets have also doubled, with some cows now going for as high as N1 million.
Farmers are warning that the current situation may not be sustainable.
“Fertiliser now costs N50,000 per bag. If prices stay low, farming may become unprofitable,” said Sadiq Abubakar, a beans farmer.
Prof. David Jatau, Adamawa State Commissioner for Agriculture, credited the price drop to the state’s food production strategy and initiatives like the Agricultural Programme for Poverty Alleviation and Climate Change Adaptation (APPACCA).
Economist Prof. Ahmad Bawa, from Modibbo Adama University, also pointed to federal policies on food importation and praised efforts to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imports, especially for rice and maize.
Despite the relief for consumers, experts warn that prices could spike again if input costs and insecurity are not addressed.
“The key is sustainability. Direct farmer-to-consumer markets must be established to reduce middlemen influence and stabilize prices,” Bawa added.
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