Kaduna sees surge in food prices following hunger protest

In the wake of recent nationwide hunger protests, Kaduna has witnessed a sharp surge in the prices of cooking gas and essential food items. Prices of goods like grains, provisions, and other staples have risen steadily across markets and shops.

A recent survey in Kaduna revealed that food items such as rice, beans, yams, garri, and noodles have experienced price hikes for the fourth time in 2024.

For instance, the price of a kilogram of cooking gas has increased from N1,100 in July to N1,400 at some gas stations. At Sheikh Abubakar Gumi Market, a 50kg bag of foreign rice, previously sold for N79,000, now ranges between N86,000 and N90,000.

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Yams, which were N5,000 per tuber just weeks ago, now cost N7,000 each. Additionally, a measure of beans now sells for N3,500, up from N2,500, while garri has risen from N1,300 to N1,500 per measure.

Traders attribute these increases to rising costs at depots, transportation challenges, and scarcity of some products. Residents are struggling with the soaring prices, with many lamenting that what used to be affordable with N5,000 now requires N15,000, leaving them grappling with economic hardship.