The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has reported a surge in prices for essential food items such as rice, garri, tomato, beans, yam, and others in April 2024. This information was disclosed in the NBS’s Selected Food Prices Watch report for April 2024, released in Abuja on Friday.
The report highlights significant increases in the average prices of various food commodities compared to the same period last year. For instance, the average price of one kilogramme of local rice skyrocketed by 155.93% from N546.76 in April 2023 to N1,399.34 in April 2024.
Similarly, the report indicates substantial year-on-year increases in the prices of white garri, tomato, brown beans, and yam tuber. On a month-on-month basis, these prices have also witnessed notable escalations.
State-wise, the report provides insights into regional price variations. For example, in April 2024, Niger recorded the highest average price for one kilogram of local rice at N1,785.47, while Benue reported the lowest at N993.72. Likewise, Bayelsa recorded the highest average price for one kilogram of white garri at N1,095.26, with Benue registering the lowest at N494.47.
Further analysis reveals variations in prices across different zones. The South-West emerged with the highest average price for one kilogram of local rice at N1,615.21, closely followed by the South-South at N1,564.85. Conversely, the North-West recorded the lowest price at N1,163.13.
In the analysis, it was noted that the South-South and South-West regions reported the highest average price for one kilogram of white garri, at N1,031.19 and N982.42 respectively, whereas the North-West recorded the lowest price at N681.77.
The report further revealed that the South-South region exhibited the highest average price for one kilogram of tomato, standing at N1,689.40, closely followed by the South-West at N1,429.06. Conversely, the North-West reported the lowest price at N615.54.
Additionally, the NBS highlighted that the North-Central and South-South regions recorded the highest average price for one kilogram of brown beans, amounting to N1,594.84 and N1,579.64 respectively. Meanwhile, the North-West region reported the lowest price at N966.9.
Similar trends were observed for other commodities, with the South-South and South-West regions generally reporting higher average prices compared to the North-West.
The NBS’s comprehensive report sheds light on the prevailing food price dynamics across regions, offering valuable insights for policymakers and consumers alike.
