As Nigerians prepare for the Sallah celebration, skyrocketing prices of tomatoes and peppers are worsening the financial strain on households, food vendors, and traders already battling economic hardship.
At Mile 12 Market, many shoppers were forced to cut down their purchases after discovering that just a few tomatoes now cost far more than usual. Families who once bought baskets of tomatoes for festive cooking now struggle to afford even small portions.
Consumers say tomatoes and peppers, once considered everyday kitchen staples, have become luxury items. Many households are now buying in smaller quantities, joining group purchases, or mixing fresh produce with cheaper, partially spoiled alternatives just to survive rising food costs.
Traders blame the sharp increase on poor harvests, insecurity on highways, rising transportation expenses, fuel prices, and post-harvest losses. According to market sellers, a crate of tomatoes that once sold for around N10,000 now costs as much as N35,000 or more in some markets, while sacks of pepper have nearly tripled in price.
Food vendors and restaurant operators across states such as Lagos, Ogun, Osun, and Oyo say the crisis is threatening their businesses. Many now ration ingredients, reduce portion sizes, or increase meal prices slightly to stay afloat, despite customer complaints.
Agricultural experts also pointed to weak storage systems, seasonal production challenges, and poor policy implementation as major contributors to the persistent price instability. Rising inflation and transport costs have further worsened the situation nationwide.
Health experts have meanwhile warned Nigerians against consuming spoiled tomatoes and peppers, cautioning that contaminated produce could expose families to harmful bacteria and serious illnesses.
With Sallah approaching, many Nigerians say they are simply trying to cope as basic ingredients become increasingly unaffordable amid the country’s rising cost-of-living crisis.
