Some residents in Lagos State have expressed concern over the recent surge in tomato prices, forcing many households to adopt alternatives.
The residents shared their views in separate interviews with reporters on Wednesday in Lagos.
A market survey by reporters shows that a 50kg basket of tomatoes now sells for between N115,000 and N125,000, up from N35,000 to N40,000 last month.
Mrs Olachi Igwe, a resident of Ago Palace, said the scarcity and high cost of tomatoes had disrupted her household’s meal plans.
“I contacted my usual vendor, but she said tomatoes were scarce and difficult to source. A small bowl we used to buy for between N3,500 and N4,000 now sells for as high as N6,000 to N7,000, when available. For now, my family will resort to palm nut stew (ofe akwu) until prices stabilise,” she said.
Another resident, Mrs Mercy Okeleye of FESTAC, said although her family prefers fresh tomatoes, rising prices have forced her to consider cheaper options.
“I cannot do without fresh tomatoes because of the taste, but I may have to buy broken ones, popularly called ‘esha’, which are relatively cheaper. I do not consider tomato paste a suitable substitute because it is not purely made from tomatoes,” she said.
Mrs Tope Babalola from Dopemu said she might adjust her cooking methods if prices remain high.
“I have not bought tomatoes in over a month, but if the price is still high, I will use more onions and peppers. I will not resort to artificial additives; I prefer natural ingredients for my meals,” she said.
Mrs Joan Ogugua, another resident, said she had already switched to tomato paste to cope with the situation.
“I asked my son to buy tomato paste for our meals. I cannot justify spending excessively on fresh tomatoes when other basic needs must be met,” she said.
Mrs Oge Ugwu, a civil servant in Lekki, said she would resort to cucumber stew due to the recent price hike.
