TOMATO PRICES REMAIN HIGH AS PEPPER GETS CHEAPER IN LAGOS

Buying pepper has become easier on some Lagos shoppers’ budgets, but tomatoes remain expensive, leaving households and traders under pressure.

Traders and consumers interviewed in Lagos said seasonal supply and transport costs were among the factors affecting prices and the quantities people could afford.

At Costain Bus Stop, tomato seller Malam Mohammed said a paint measure of tomatoes now cost ₦7,000, compared with ₦6,000 in August and September.

He said basket prices had also climbed from between ₦35,000 and ₦40,000 to between ₦45,000 and ₦65,000, depending on the variety, size and source.

Mohammed, who buys from Mile 12 Market, explained that higher purchase costs were making it difficult to earn a reasonable profit.

Some customers, he said, complained about receiving smaller quantities for their money, and he had lost buyers as a result.

To reduce the risk of unsold tomatoes spoiling, he now purchases smaller quantities at a time.

Pepper prices, meanwhile, have eased, offering some relief. Mohammed put the price of a large bag at between ₦30,000 and ₦40,000, although he could not provide a reliable earlier figure for comparison.

Another Costain trader, Mrs Rukayat Sherif, said she also sourced tomatoes and pepper from Mile 12 because she trusted the market.

For shoppers, cheaper pepper provides limited relief while the rising cost of tomatoes continues to stretch food budgets.