Bauchi, Gombe, and Dutse witness drop in food prices, residents rejoice
Residents of Bauchi, Gombe, and Dutse are experiencing a wave of relief as food prices in local markets show a notable decline in recent weeks. A thorough assessment by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) across various markets in these states reveals a welcome reduction in food prices, providing respite amidst the backdrop of soaring inflation in previous months. Key staples such as parboiled rice, maize, beans, and millet have witnessed a remarkable decrease of approximately 10% across these markets.
In Gombe, consumers are delighted as the price of a 50-kilogram bag of foreign rice dropped from ₦82,000 to ₦66,000, while the local variety saw a reduction from ₦130,000 to ₦120,000 per 100-kilogram bag. Similarly, the cost of beans decreased from ₦1,900 to ₦1,800 per measure, with the 100-kilogram bag now selling at ₦78,000 compared to its previous price of ₦83,000.
However, while most food items experience a decline, perishable goods such as tomatoes and onions registered a slight increase in prices. For instance, a medium-sized basket of tomatoes now sells for ₦8,000 to ₦11,000, compared to the previous range of ₦9,500 to ₦13,000, depending on quality. Onions, which previously ranged from ₦13,000 to ₦20,000 per bag, now sell at ₦12,000 to ₦18,000.
At Wunti market in Bauchi, the reduction in prices is echoed across various commodities, including maize, beans, soybeans, and sorghum. A 100-kilogram bag of maize, for instance, now sells at ₦58,000 compared to its previous price of ₦60,000, while beans and soybeans are priced at ₦75,000 and ₦32,000, respectively. Similar trends are observed in Dutse, where the cost of rice, millet, maize, sorghum, and wheat witnesses a decline from previous weeks.
Grain dealers attribute this positive shift to the Federal Government’s ban on bulk grain purchases and proactive monetary policies. Alhaji Danjuma Jahun, a rice dealer in Bauchi, lauds the government’s intervention, stating that it has curbed hoarding and boosted food supply.
Isa Munkaila, another dealer, predicts further price reductions with improved market supply and calls for enhanced power supply to rice mills to bolster productivity. Meanwhile, residents like Bala Abdullahi and Musa Adamu commend the government’s food palliative programs, which have contributed to checking inflation and enhancing food security. They express optimism that prices will continue to decrease as the cropping season approaches.
