Frozen fish, pepper, and tomatoes price soar to over 100% in Lagos 

While rice, both local and foreign, recorded welcome price reductions, other essential food items such as frozen fish, pepper, and tomatoes saw price hikes of over 100%, placing further strain on household budgets.

This is according to the latest Naijaonpoint Food Price Survey conducted across four major Lagos markets—Mile 12, Mushin, Daleko, and Oyingbo, highlighting the intensity of price increases across essential items.

In Lagos, food prices are being driven upward by supply chain disruptions, higher transport costs, weather-related harvest issues, and insecurity in food-producing states.

The Lagos food market in April 2025 revealed a marketplace of extremes. Some staple items saw double-digit percentage price hikes, while others offered some relief.

Key drivers behind these movements include rising transportation costs, poor harvest yields due to weather conditions, and persistent supply chain disruptions.

Other food items that recorded price increases include white garri, white beans, Ola-Ola poundo yam (2.267kg), and egusi (melon).

Prices of some items like dry onions, large Abuja yams, and the 0.9kg pack of Ayoola poundo yam remained relatively stable.

The recent food price surveys across four major Lagos markets, Oyingbo, Mile 12, Mushin, and Daleko, offer not only a snapshot of current food pricing but also deeper insights into the lived experiences of both traders and consumers.

Speaking to Abu from Mile 12, regarding the sharp increase in pepper prices, he said, “I used to buy a full big of pepper for N50,000 or less, but now it’s over N130,000. Transporters are charging more, and we hear that the harvest up North wasn’t good this season,” he explained further.

Mallam Kabiru, a tomato seller in Mushin Market, noted the impact of transportation and perishability:

“Just last week, I paid more than usual to bring tomatoes from Kano. The road is bad due to the little rain that fell, and farmers kept complaining of low yields. Also, “Tomatoes don’t last long. If we don’t sell fast, we lose money. That’s why prices keep fluctuating,” he said.

A consumer, named Mrs. Adebayo, at Mile 12 market, shared her experience with the recent hike in the price of pepper and tomatoes.

“We have opted for another alternative for making stew since fresh pepper has become so expensive. We now use dried pepper or blended chili in smaller quantities, with lots of onions and tomato paste to make stew,” she shared.

Alhaja Aminat, a prominent frozen goods trader in Oyingbo market, expressed her displeasure in the unexplained increase in the price of frozen food especially the Titus fish.

“Fish is now a luxury. Titus is over N130,000 per carton. How do you sell one kilo for over N12,000 when it was just N6,000 last month? It’s tough for us to keep up,” she lamented.

“Fish is now a luxury. Titus is over N130,000 per carton. How do you sell one kilo for over N12,000 when it was just N6,000 last month? It’s tough for us to keep up,” she lamented.

“Even the regular Kote is now sold for N7,000 per kilo, from N4,700 or so in the previous month. The prices of cartons of chicken and turkey seem to be reasonable, though many households cannot afford buying them in kilos”, she added.

Mrs. Tire, a mother of three, also echoed her concern, “We are grateful the price of rice is getting lower, but the other important edibles are not smiling on us at all, we can’t even cook a proper meal for N5,000 anymore. We’re forced to substitute.” 

Nigeria’s headline inflation climbed to 24.23% in March 2025, up from 23.18% in February, as the rising cost of food and essential goods continues to squeeze household budgets and test the resilience of millions of Nigerians.

The timing could not be worse. Nigeria is inching closer to the planting season, yet farmers in key food-producing states are grappling with insecurity, rising transport costs, and disrupted supply chains. These challenges not only threaten future harvests but risk fueling further inflationary pressure in the months ahead.

Lagos State recorded a food inflation rate of 24.2% year-on-year in March 2025, according to the latest data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), reflecting the persistent surge in food prices across Nigeria’s commercial hub.

As the state heads into the second quarter of the year and planting season approaches, the high food inflation rate raises concerns about affordability and food security for low- and middle-income households.

The Naijaonpoint Food Price Watch is a monthly market survey tracking the prices of major food items across Nigeria.

This report specifically covers four key markets in Lagos State: Mushin Market, Daleko Market, Oyingbo Market, and Mile 12 Market.

The survey provides up-to-date insights into food price trends, helping businesses, policymakers, and consumers make informed decisions.