Abuja Food Prices Drop in September: Rice, Beans, and Tomatoes Become Cheaper as Harvest Season Eases Inflation
Food prices in Abuja showed mixed trends in September 2025, with some staples becoming more affordable for households while others climbed higher due to supply and transport challenges. A market survey across Wuse, Kubwa, Nyanya, and Orange Market revealed that staples like rice, beans, and tomatoes recorded sharp price declines, giving families some relief amid Nigeria’s inflationary pressures. However, onions and goat meat rose further, reflecting persistent cost pressures in food supply chains.
At Nyanya market, the cost of a 50kg bag of rice dropped significantly to between N58,000 and N63,000, compared to N80,000–N85,000 in July. Similarly, a mudu of local rice sold for N1,400–N1,600, while foreign rice stood at N2,500 per mudu. Beans also became more affordable, with a mudu of white beans falling to N1,600 from over N2,000, and brown beans priced at N1,500, down from N2,319 in July. Tomato prices recorded the steepest drop, selling for N3,000 per mudu, compared to N6,821 in July, easing household budgets after months of skyrocketing costs.
Despite these declines, some essential items continued to strain family incomes. A sack of onions surged to N60,000, up from N45,000 in July, while a lap of goat meat rose to N7,500–N13,500, reflecting transport bottlenecks and insecurity in farming regions. “Yes, rice and beans are cheaper, but onions and meat are still too high. By the time you combine everything, you still end up spending more,” said Halima, a mother of three shopping at Wuse Market.
Traders attributed the fall in beans, rice, yams, and tomatoes to the ongoing harvest season in northern states, which boosted supply. They also credited recent government policies that eased the movement of food across the country. “The price of onions can sometimes be unpredictable. So, you can come back tomorrow and buy it cheaper,” explained Hauwa, an onion seller at Kubwa Market, highlighting the volatility in food pricing.
Economists point to broader factors supporting the decline in food prices. Dr. Adam Abudu of the Society for Peacebuilding and Economic Advancement noted that a more stable foreign exchange market in recent weeks has lowered the cost of imports, indirectly easing pressure on local staples. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) also confirmed that food inflation slowed to 21.87% in August 2025, compared to 37.52% a year earlier. Analysts say President Bola Tinubu’s directive for improved agricultural supply chains is beginning to yield results, but households remain cautious as food costs remain uneven across key commodities.
source: nairametrics