Traders Reveal New Prices Of Rice, Spaghetti, Beans, Other Foodstuffs

Traders in Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe states have revealed new prices of rice, spaghetti, beans and other foodstuffs.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), at Yola Central Market, the price of a 50kg bag of foreign rice, previously ranging from N80,000 to N85,000, has now dropped to between N57,000 and N58,000, marking a notable decrease of over 30% in just two months.

Likewise, the price of a 100kg bag of beans, previously at N110,000, has now decreased to N100,000, and a 100kg bag of guinea corn, a staple food in Adamawa, now sells for N55,000, down from N60,000.

Suleiman Adamu, a trader in the market who deals in pasta, attributed the decrease in prices to the recent rise in the value of the naira.

According to him, a big carton of spaghetti, which sold for N13,500 two months ago, now sells for N12,800, while a carton of indomie, which sold for N15,000, now sells for N13,500. Adamu urged the government to sustain the tempo and ensure that the prices of essential commodities remain affordable for the citizenry.

Mohammed Tukur, a lecturer at the Adamawa State Polytechnic, Yola, commended the government for its efforts in stabilizing the economy, which has led to the decrease in food prices.

However, he urged the government to put in place mechanisms to control the prices of essential commodities to ensure access and affordability for all.

In Yobe State, a similar trend has been observed. A bag of 100kg white beans now costs N75,000, down from N110,000, while a bag of red beans goes for N95,000, down from N130,000. A 50kg bag of local rice has also dropped from N65,000 to N45,000, while 100kg of guinea corn has dropped from N60,000 to N50,000.

Abdullahi Garin-Dayi, chairman of the Grain Sellers Association in the market, attributed the decrease in prices to the need for farmers to generate cash for the next cropping season.

According to him, farmers are willing to sell their produce at lower prices to raise funds for the next planting season.

At Bayan Tasha market in Damaturu, the chairman of the traders association, Alhassan Ibrahim, said a 50kg bag of local rice now sells for N45,000, down from N65,000. A 25-litre jerry can of cooking oil goes for N44,000, down from N60,000, while a bag of sugar has also dropped from N80,000 to N78,000.

In Maiduguri, a 50kg bag of foreign rice goes for N70,000, down from N80,000, while local rice goes for N63,000. A 100kg bag of maize, which used to sell at N75,000, is now N64,000, while millet retains its price of N64,000.

However, a basket of tomatoes, which sold for N9,000 two months ago, has risen to N18,000, while a sack of Atargu (pepper) has increased from N52,000 to N65,000.

Overall, the decline in food prices is a positive development for residents of Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe states, who have been facing high food costs in recent months.