FCT Residents Struggle with Rising Food Prices

Residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are facing challenges in feeding their households due to rising food prices, particularly for essential ingredients like tomatoes and peppers. Mr. Mari Augustin, a local restaurant owner, noted that the price of a big basket of tomatoes has surged from N45,000-N48,000 to N85,000-N90,000, while the cost of a 50kg bag of peppers has increased from N20,000-N30,000 to N120,000-N150,000.

Food vendors, including Fatima Muhammad, have had to adjust their cooking practices, often resorting to cheaper alternatives like sachet pepper mixes due to the high costs of fresh ingredients. This situation has forced them to reduce portion sizes or alter their recipes.

Additionally, residents like Maman Zainab and Mr. Benjamin Amo expressed concerns about the impact of these price hikes on their meal preparation, especially during festive seasons. Dr. Abdulwahab Ishaq called for better support for farmers to improve transportation and storage systems, which could help mitigate these rising costs.