Abuja Residents Praise Federal Government as Food Prices Drop Across Nigeria

Culled from NAN

Some Abuja residents have commended the Federal Government’s efforts to reduce food prices, saying the drop in costs has provided much-needed relief to residents of the city and Nigerians nationwide.

In separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday, traders and consumers alike highlighted the impact of the intervention on food affordability.

Mrs. Vivian Uche, a foodstuff vendor at Lugbe Market, said the price reductions have been significant. “A bag of rice that was selling for N76,000 a few months ago now goes for N55,000. A module of gari dropped from N1,000–1,200 to N500–600, and beans went from N2,800–3,000 to N600–800, depending on quality. Truly, this is a relief for us traders and our customers,” she said.

Mrs. Ifeoma Iwuji, a civil servant, noted that government policies increasing food supply had led to surpluses and subsequent price reductions. “The cost of food has been a major burden; with prices dropping, we can now afford to buy more food,” she said.

Mrs. Cynthia Chukwuma, a buyer at Lugbe Market, welcomed the development but urged that the low prices be sustained. “We need to see if this price drop is sustainable. Families are benefiting for now, but past reductions have often been short-lived,” she explained.

Mechanised farmer Mr. Kayode Iyiola attributed the decline to multiple factors, including the harvest season, improved security in farming areas, and government interventions such as free import waivers, subsidised fertiliser distribution, and dry-season farming initiatives. “Farmers can now access their lands and produce more food, while cheap imports have further driven down prices,” he said.

However, Iyiola cautioned that many Nigerians still face challenges due to low purchasing power and stagnant incomes, which make it difficult for some households to fully benefit from the reduced food costs.

The residents’ praise reflects growing optimism that government policies, combined with seasonal factors, can help ease the cost of living for Nigerians while supporting both producers and consumers.