Nigeria’s food scene is getting a serious shake-up! Runaway inflation is hitting hard, forcing families to rethink what they eat and how they survive. It’s not just about paying more; it’s about a whole shift in Nigerian food culture.
Here’s a quick rundown of what we’ll be covering:
- How food inflation is making it harder to eat in Nigeria.
- The crazy ways people are changing their diets to cope.
- The long-term impact on health, especially for children.
- What can be done to help solve the crisis.
The Good Old Days are Gone
Remember when a few naira could fill your belly? Those days are fading fast. Retired soldier Tiamiu Adepegba recalls times when food was affordable, but now, even getting the basics is a struggle. The price of everything has gone through the roof, from rice to bread. And its affecting everyone from the cities to the villages. A simple bag of rice for example now costs more than ten times the old price!
Inflation: The Culprit
Food inflation in Nigeria hit a staggering 39.84% in December, after peaking at 40.7% earlier in 2024, the worst in 25 years. That’s a scary number that shows how much more people are paying for food. The reasons? Well, the Naira’s value has dropped, supply chains are a mess, and transportation costs are insane. It’s a perfect storm of problems making food more expensive.
An example of a chaotic market scene.
How People are Coping
People are getting creative—or desperate. Some are eating just one meal a day, often at night. Others are sharing a single meal between multiple people. Online, you’ll see darkly humorous meal-planning strategies reflecting these harsh times. People are constantly adjusting their diets.
Tomato Troubles
Tomatoes, a key part of Nigerian cooking, have become crazy expensive. Food bloggers even joke about using cucumbers or watermelons instead, leading to funny but serious debates. The price of staples like tomatoes, garri, and yam shot up by 55% between May and June 2024 alone!
Swapping Staples
Rice, once a daily go-to, is now a luxury for some. Families are switching to cheaper options like yam or cassava flour. Protein sources like chicken and fish are replaced with beans, dried fish, or eggs. Even cow skin (ponmo) is becoming a more common choice, simply because it’s cheaper.
Shrinking Veggie Portions
Even fruits and vegetables are affected. One lady in Lagos said the portions of pumpkin leaves (ugwu) she buys are much smaller now. She used to buy enough for two days for N200, but now it barely feeds her for one meal.
Tales of Hardship
Mothers like Olusunmade Mary are having to make heartbreaking choices. A kilo of fish that used to be bought in multiples, is now rationed out to her children, with the smaller pieces going to the kids. Eggs are now often the main source of protein, or are eaten with fish. Even a simple thing like cooking oil is more expensive. One guy in Abuja said he now mixes groundnut oil with palm oil or just uses palm oil because its so much cheaper.
“Downward Substitution”
This change is called “downward substitution” where people are forced to eat cheaper, less healthy foods because they can’t afford their usual diets.
Various food items on display.
More Than Just Inflation
Inflation is the biggest problem, but its not the only one. Climate change, especially flooding, destroys crops that would be available for food. The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) says floods in Nigeria have destroyed enough rice, maize, and sorghum to feed 13 million people for an entire year. Transportation costs and the weak Naira make everything even more expensive, and insecurity in the North-east also disrupts food supplies.
The Future Looks Bleak
The World Food Programme predicts that, by 2025, over 33 million Nigerians could be facing food insecurity. Children are most vulnerable, as malnutrition can seriously affect their brain development. Doctors say malnutrition can impair focus and decision-making, and it can lead to more hospitalizations. Even adults face mental health issues, often experiencing “food anxiety,” worrying about where their next meal is coming from. UNICEF reports that 35 million Nigerian kids don’t get enough nutrition!
What Needs To Be Done
The solution needs to be immediate and massive, tackling the root of the crisis. The World Food Programme says we need action in prevention, support, and saving lives. Helping farmers with cash, seeds, and fertilizer could help. We need to improve food, health, and WASH facilities. International groups, private companies, and all levels of government must work together to prevent a famine. We have the means to solve the crisis, but we need to act now!
For families like Olusunmade Mary’s, a solution can’t come soon enough. The fight against hunger in Nigeria is one we must win!