Despite being peak harvest season, residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are facing skyrocketing prices of tomatoes, pepper, and other food items in Dei-Dei Market.

Dei-Dei, a major produce market that serves Gwagwalada, Bwari, and Kuje, now sees a big basket of tomatoes selling for N55,000–N60,000, up from N18,000–N19,000. A bag of pepper now costs between N85,000 and N100,000, compared to N35,000–N40,000 previously.

A “dustbin basket” of tomatoes that used to sell for N5,000 now sells for N18,000, and a small paint bucket now goes for even more.

Tomato dealer Abdullahi Ahmed attributed the hike to high transportation and logistics costs.

Retailers like Shu’aibu Lawal from Gwagwa Market said, “In December, a big basket was N10,000 or less. Now, I can’t afford even one. It’s really affecting our businesses.”

He urged the government to implement economic policies that will stabilise food prices, warning, “It’ll be terrible if the average Nigerian can no longer afford tomatoes, rice, or pepper.”