Tomato prices have continued to rise in parts of Lagos, forcing households to reduce consumption and traders to cut purchases, even as increased pepper supplies have brought some relief to buyers.
A survey by the News Agency of Nigeria found that a paint of tomatoes now sells for about N7,000 in some markets, compared with between N4,000 and N5,000 in September, while pepper prices have declined in some locations because of improved availability.
Traders and consumers said the price fluctuations had affected sales, household budgets and purchasing decisions, with some expressing concern that demand during the December festive season could push prices higher.
At Costain Bus Stop, a tomato seller, Malam Mohammed, said a paint of tomatoes that sold for N6,000 in August and September now cost N7,000.
He added that the price of a basket had increased from between N35,000 and N40,000 to between N45,000 and N65,000, depending on the variety, size and place of origin.
Mohammed, who sources his produce from Mile 12 Market, said the high prices had made it difficult for traders to maximise profits, while customers complained about the quantities they received for the money spent.
He said the complaints had cost him some customers, forcing him to reduce the quantity of tomatoes he bought to limit losses from spoilage.
Another trader at Costain, Mrs Rukayat Sherif, said a basket of Ghana tomatoes now sold for between N40,000 and N45,000, down from N50,000 and above in August and September.
She, however, put the current price of a paint at N7,000, compared with between N4,000 and N5,000 in September.
Sherif said five tomatoes sold for N500, while pepper was available for N500 in small rubber plates containing a relatively generous quantity.
She attributed price changes partly to seasonal supply and transportation costs, adding that some tomatoes damaged during transportation had recently been sold at reduced prices to prevent further deterioration.
At Suru Market, Suru-Alaba, another tomato seller, Mrs Regina Owho, said large baskets sold for about N50,000, while smaller ones cost between N35,000 and N45,000.
She recalled that a basket sold for about N40,000 in August and September, although prices fluctuated during the period.
A resident of Vaughan Street, Costain, Mrs Mary Chigozie, said she spent between N2,000 and N5,000 daily on tomatoes and pepper but had reduced the quantities used in cooking because of the rising cost of tomatoes.
According to her, small quantities that previously sold for N200 or N300 now cost between N500 and N1,000.
Chigozie said she sometimes combined pepper with tomato paste or prepared red-oil stew when fresh tomatoes became too expensive. She urged the government to support farmers, warning that prices could rise further during the December festivities.
While tomato buyers grapple with higher costs, pepper consumers in several Lagos markets are enjoying improved supplies and lower prices for some varieties.
At Olaogun Street, Abule-Nla Junction, Costain, a pepper trader, Mr Okoro Ebubechi, said he now bought a small basket for N20,000, compared with between N30,000 and N40,000 in September.
He attributed the reduction to increased seasonal supplies and said customers were buying larger quantities because pepper had become more affordable.
Ebubechi said he sold pepper in different quantities, including portions worth N500, to accommodate customers with varying budgets. He expected prices to rise again in December if supplies declined.
Another trader on the street, Mrs Rukayat Rasheeb, said a bag of pepper sold for between N45,000 and N60,000, the same range recorded in August and September, although supplies had improved.
She said transportation and loading expenses continued to add to traders' costs but expressed optimism that prices could fall further.
At Ilogbo Mosque, Apapa Road, pepper trader Mrs Odunayo Igwe said a bag sold for N30,000, unchanged from September, but noted that supplies were now more plentiful.
Similarly, Mrs Patience Niju of Suru Market said a small bag of pepper cost N25,000, while a larger bag sold for N40,000. A small bag of shombo went for N20,000, against N30,000 for a larger bag.
Niju said the prices had remained unchanged from August and September, but the bags contained more pepper in October, encouraging customers to buy larger quantities and improving sales.
A civil servant living in Iyana Ipaja, Mrs Teni David, said N200 to N500 could now buy more pepper than in August and September, when the same quantity cost between N1,000 and N1,500.
She attributed the increased supply partly to limited preservation facilities, explaining that traders often sold pepper quickly when large quantities entered the market during the harvest season to prevent spoilage.
David called on the government to establish more processing centres where farmers and traders could preserve and package pepper during periods of abundance, helping to reduce waste and maintain supplies during the off-season.
Another consumer, Mrs Mary Udonwa, said she now spent between N500 and N1,500 on pepper, depending on her needs, after high prices in August and September forced her to reduce the quantity used in cooking.
Udonwa said the current price reduction had made pepper more affordable and suggested that some traders were lowering prices to avoid losses from spoilage.
However, consumers and traders expressed concern that the current relief might be temporary, with prices likely to rise again if supplies decline during the Christmas and New Year festivities.
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