FCT Residents and Traders Lament Massive Surge in Tomato Prices

Residents and food traders across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have expressed deep concern over the continuous spike in the price of tomatoes, which has severely impacted household feeding budgets and market sales.

A market survey conducted across major trading hubs in Abuja reveals a sharp upward trajectory in costs over recent weeks. Market dealers indicate that a large wholesale basket of tomatoes, which previously retailed between ₦85,000 and ₦90,000, now commands between ₦150,000 and ₦170,000.

Traders attribute the steep increase to a combination of seasonal scarcity, post-harvest losses, and escalating transportation costs required to move agricultural produce from agrarian states down to the nation’s capital.

The financial pressure has forced retail merchants to adjust their purchasing habits. Some small-scale traders noted that they now have to pool financial resources with up to five colleagues to purchase a single wholesale basket, whereas they previously shared with only two or three partners. Consequently, a standard small paint rubber measurement of tomatoes has doubled from its previous price of around ₦4,000 to between ₦8,000 and ₦10,000.

The price surge has also altered consumer behavior. Many low-income consumers have stopped purchasing the item in large quantities, forcing retailers to eliminate smaller, cheaper portions.

FCT consumers have lamented that the development is putting a strain on domestic finances, forcing many households to buy only what is needed for daily sustenance or turn to more affordable alternatives.

Community members are calling on the government to intervene by addressing supply chain inefficiencies and implementing agricultural policies to boost wet and dry-season production.