In various cities across Nigeria, there’s been a significant surge in tomato prices, drawing concern from both sellers and consumers.
In April, a basket of fresh tomatoes ranged between ₦50,000 and ₦80,000, but now it’s soared to ₦140,000 to ₦150,000, sparking worry, especially with Eid El-Kabir festivities approaching.
Traders attribute this sharp hike to the usual seasonal fluctuations in tomato production. With the wet season rolling in, the harvest period for the current tomato variety is winding down, reducing supply.
Umar Tanko, a trader in Lagos, noted a staggering over 100% increase in prices from April to May.
Additionally, lower-quality tomatoes, often damaged during transportation from North to South, are fetching ₦60,000 to ₦100,000, compared to ₦30,000 last month.
Shefiu, another trader, highlighted a decline in tomato supply due to the rainy season, signaling the end of the current variety.
He suggested importing from Cameroon and Ghana to mitigate the shortfall. Prices have surged elsewhere too, with similar patterns observed in Kwara, Edo, Abuja, and Delta states.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, the year-on-year increase in tomato prices stands at a staggering 131.58% between April 2023 and April 2024.
Just between March and April 2024, there’s been a 17.06% hike in the average price of 1kg of tomatoes.
