Across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), roadside food vending is expanding rapidly as rising food prices, high cost of cooking gas and declining household incomes push residents toward cheaper meal options.

From Wuse and Garki to Kubwa, Lugbe, Nyanya, and Dutse, street food vending has become a daily necessity for workers, students, and low-income families struggling with inflation and transportation costs.

A market survey indicates that a basic plate of rice, beans, or yam sold by roadside vendors in Abuja now costs between ₦1,000 and ₦2,000, while preparing similar meals at home can exceed ₦4,500 when cooking gas, electricity, and food prices are factored in. According to National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) data, the cost of refilling a 12.5kg cooking gas cylinder rose to an average of about ₦19,652 by March 2026, while food inflation stood at 16.06% in April 2026.

Observations across several vending points between late April and early May 2026 revealed uneven sanitation conditions. While some vendors maintain clean setups with covered meals and regular utensil washing, others operate in environments with limited access to clean water, waste disposal systems, electricity, and proper food storage facilities, raising concerns about hygiene and food safety.

For many vendors, the sector has also become a survival pathway amid unemployment and economic hardship. Attah Joseph, a 26-year-old vendor in Wuse who lost his printing press job in 2025, said he started with ₦50,000 capital. “Now, on good days, I make between 15,000 to 25,000, good enough to support myself and help my younger sister in school,” he said.

Public health experts warn that poor handling and storage practices could increase the risk of food borne diseases.

Dorcas David, a public health researcher, noted that contaminated environments and inadequate temperature control can lead to illnesses such as cholera, typhoid, and food poisoning, adding that studies in Nigeria have linked street food samples to bacterial contamination and unsafe toxin levels.

Regulatory agencies, including the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and FCT public health authorities, continue to face challenges monitoring the large informal sector. Experts are calling for designated vending hubs, improved sanitation infrastructure, and compulsory hygiene training to balance public health concerns with the economic realities driving street food dependence in Abuja.