EMPTY PLATES, HEAVY HEARTS:HOW SOARING FOOD PRICES ARE RESHAPING NIGERIA DINNER TABLE
BY ELIJAH-OFOVWE GOD’SCARRING TEJIRI
The impact of rising food prices in Nigeria has skyrocketed, driven by insecurity and rising transportation costs due to abnormal and arbitrary increments in the prices of fuel.
Over the past years, the prices of food items have exploded because almost every part of the supply chain has become more expensive due to the high cost of transportation caused by insecurity and the high cost of fuel.
Before, many Nigerians could still afford three square meals, even if it meant buying in large quantities. The biggest reason for this was the cost of fuel prices, which caused a high cost of transportation.
A manager of Nexis lounge and suites expresses frustration about the soaring of food prices on Nigeria dinner table.
“As a manager who has been in the business for a while, and as a family man, there is no way we can underplay the fact that Nigerian families are going through a lot. A lot of people are suffering, because if you bought something for two thousand, for example, last week and take that same amount to the market today, you will be put to shame”.
He also explained that while the salaries of civil servants and other government workers and private workers remain constant, food prices soar by the day, and you can’t guarantee that what you bought in the morning will be the same price in the evening.
According to a 100-level student and a mother of one from the department of English and literary studies, Miss Sandra Ogunbolade, the soaring of food prices has negatively affected the Nigerian dinner tables. For example, I used 80% of my salary just for feeding alone, without adding my house rent and other bills.
She lamented further, saying students can’t afford three square meals a day, and this has imposed an impediment on the students academically because the expenses are more than their income.
A vox pop conducted by students, a business owner, Mrs Eloho Augustine, explained that soaring food prices have affected 70% of Nigerian families, making them not to feed well. Some families can no longer eat three square meals, and some have even switched to less nutritious alternatives. This has not only affected feeding but also their business.
She noted that the devastating effect of soaring food prices has been enormous on traders and businessmen in recent times. Goods bought today, and when you go to the same market the following days, the price has geometrically increased, causing the trader to add more money to get the goods he or she has sold at a lower rate.
According to “a graduate from Delta State University, Abraka, Miss Odafe Racheal,” soaring food prices have become a major challenge in Nigerian families as the cost of food continues to increase, making it harder for households to meet their daily nutritional needs.
She also added that the prices of food has place financial pressure on families cause larger portion of their family income is spent on food, leaving the other essential things that are needed to make a family function, like education, health care and transportation.
Others noted that the current food crisis in Nigeria has increased poverty, hunger and criminal acts. We hope that very soon there might be a change in all of this, or else people might go into depression.
At the end of the day, soaring food prices have done more than shrink portions in Nigerian families by reshaping dignity and family life around the dinner table. What used to be a place of abundance, laughter and “take more”is now a space of calculations, compromise and quiet sacrifice.
The Truth remains Nigeria families are going through a lot.
