The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has released its Selected Food Prices Watch report for August 2023, showing an alarming surge in the costs of essential food items across the country.
Garri, a staple for many Nigerians, increased by 49.16 per cent from N305.92 in August 2022 to N456.32 in August 2023, while 1kg of local rice, rose by 62.68 per from N454.10 in August 2022 to N738.74 in August 2023.
The report also revealed a sharp increase in the average price of 1kg of boneless beef by 30.75 per cent, surging from N2,141.18 in August 2022 to N2,799.51 in August 2023.
Yam prices surged with a 42.80 per cent increase from N403.65 in August 2022 to N576.39 in August 2023, while the price of brown beans, witnessed a 27 per cent rise from N545.61 in August 2022 to N692.95 in August 2023.
The trend continued in other essential food items like palm oil, which saw a rise of 38.13 per cent year-on-year, reaching N1,238.56 in August 2023 from N896.63 in August 2022.
Taking a closer look at the variations across states, the report showed distinct disparities in food prices.
Anambra stood out with the highest average price of 1kg of boneless beef at N3,790.02, while Kogi reported the lowest at N1,835.71. Ondo reported the highest average price of 1kg of local rice at N903.26, with Benue reporting the lowest at N529.72.
In the case of brown beans, Imo reported the highest average price at N1,087.14, whereas Kogi had the lowest at N480.34. Lagos had the highest average price of 1kg of onion bulb at N847.83, while Kano state reported the lowest at N300.46.
As for yam prices, Akwa Ibom witnessed the highest average price at N1,030.71, contrasting with Adamawa which had the lowest at N328.71. Palm oil prices also showed considerable variations, with Ogun recording the highest average price of 1 litre at N1,525.49 and Kwara revealing the lowest at N920. Cross River recorded the highest average price of garri at N574.32, with Kwara noting the lowest at N336.64.