Provisions and food traders across Sokoto State have voiced their concerns over the rising prices of food and essential items, which have created challenges for both vendors and customers. ASHENEWS spoke to multiple shop owners to understand the trends driving these price changes and how they are affecting the daily lives of local residents.
A key factor in the price hikes, some sellers suggest, is that central market vendors tend to inflate costs when certain items are scarce or in high demand. This has left consumers in Sokoto grappling with inconsistent prices, as staples and household products fluctuate from one week to the next.
Price increases across essential goods
Mr. Suleman Mustapha, who runs a provision store on Gusau Road, shared insights on the unrelenting price increases he has observed since the beginning of the year. He added that nothing is getting cheaper.
“Prices keep going up, and nothing seems to be getting cheaper. It’s hard to keep up,” he said.
Mr. Mustapha noted that a big loaf of bread, once N800, is now priced between N1,200 to N1,600 – a 50 per cent increase. Other essential items have seen similar hikes: a bag of sugar has risen from N75,000 to N83,000, while Peak milk, once N2,500, now sells for N3,500, marking a 40 per cent jump.
“I sell provisions and go to the market every three days to buy goods. Since January, prices have been going up, and nothing is coming down. You might buy something for N300 today, and tomorrow it will cost more than you paid the day before.
“For example, I used to buy a big loaf of bread for N800, but now it is N1,200. A bag of sugar used to cost N75,000, but now it’s N83,000. Cabin biscuits I used to buy for N700 are now N1,000 and Rambo that I bought for N1,600 is now N2,600.
“Three Crowns milk that I used to buy for N1,500 is now N2,800, Peak milk that was N2,500 is now N3,500, and yogurt that I used to buy for N9,500 is now N14,000 for 10 pieces.
“I am really struggling with the high prices, and I would be very happy if things could come down or return to normal. Sometimes, I explain this to my customers, and the next day, they don’t come back to buy from me again,” he said.
National food inflation stats
According to recent reports, Nigeria’s inflation rate has hovered around 25% in 2024, with food inflation contributing heavily to the increase. This aligns with the experiences of vendors like Mr. Mustapha, who report feeling the squeeze of rising prices across nearly all goods.
Customers feeling the pinch
Mr. Hassan Ahmed, who owns a provision store in Mabera, shared that even his customers have resigned themselves to these price changes. “I’m shocked by the prices myself.
For instance, I used to buy Pampers for N750, but now it is N1,050. Viva was N180, but now it is N350. The biggest loaf of bread was N550, but now it is N800. Coke that I used to buy for N2,300 is now N3,800. The beans that I used to buy a mudu for N2,200 is now N4,800. Noodles (Supreme) that were N170 are now N320, and Noodles (Super Pack) that were N180 are now N350.
“Ladies’ sanitary pads that I used to buy for N350 are now N570. A 20-leaves exercise book that I used to buy for N80 is now N130, and a 40-leaves exercise book that was N180 is now N250. Tissue paper that I used to buy for N70 is now N150. Eggs that I bought for N2,200 are now N4,600,” he said”.
The stark increases have led some customers to scale back on their purchases, affecting Ahmed’s daily sales.
Sokoto residents, like many across Nigeria, are adjusting to the shifting prices of everyday products. Rising prices for staples such as rice and bread have hit low-income families the hardest, leading to reports of reduced food quality and quantity in daily meals, according to a 2024 report by the National Bureau of Statistics.
Impact on small businesses
Other shop owners report struggling to manage operational costs as their profit margins shrink. Mr. Mustapha Ali, who helps his brother run a provision store, explained that a mudu of rice now costs N4,200 compared to N2,500 in January.
“Prices for everything, from rice to toothpaste, have doubled or tripled, making it difficult to maintain regular inventory,” he said.
Ali’s situation highlights the broader challenges faced by small business owners in Sokoto, who must choose between raising their prices or absorbing losses to retain customers.
Scarcity and price manipulation
Mrs. Blessing, who owns God is Good Provisions Store on Offa Road, emphasized that price spikes often stem from scarcity or manipulation by central market sellers.
“When there’s a shortage, sellers who have stock increase their prices significantly,” she explained. A bag of stone-free local rice, which was N45,000 last year, now costs N130,000. Imported rice prices are also high, rising from N82,000 to N85,000 per bag, according to her.
These price fluctuations reflect Nigeria’s ongoing supply chain challenges, worsened by fuel price increases and transport costs. For example, the cost of distributing goods to Sokoto from the major port in Lagos has more than doubled since 2023, affecting all stages of the supply chain.
Regional food security threats
The steep costs of beans, garri, and other staples underscore food security challenges that analysts warn could worsen without intervention. Beans, a dietary staple, has become prohibitively expensive, with a bag of large brown beans now costing as much as N240,000, forcing many families to turn to less nutritious alternatives.
Economic experts note that unless supply chains stabilize and inflation slows, basic provisions may remain out of reach for many Nigerians. They advocate for policy measures to address the costs of production and distribution, as well as efforts to boost local agricultural productivity to ensure staple food items remain accessible.
Vendors’ appeal for stability
Shop owners like Mrs. Blessing urge authorities to investigate and address the root causes of these price hikes, hoping for interventions that can stabilize prices. “If prices continue rising, many of us will lose customers, which is already happening,” she said, highlighting the strain on small business sustainability.
