According to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights ,UDHR, Article 25(1), everyone has the right to standard of living adequate for their health and well-being, which includes access to food, clothing, and housing.

Similarly, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights ,ICESCR, Article 11 emphasizes the right to an adequate standard of living, including sufficient food.

Furthermore, the Covenant recognizes the fundamental right to be free from hunger and advocates for measures both individual and international to eliminate hunger.

It is widely acknowledged that inadequate food availability can lead to health issues, as food is as essential to health as air is to breathing.

The situation Is exacerbated by the rising costs of healthcare, which are increasingly out of reach for many due to ongoing inflation.

Difficult situations

In Nigeria, harsh economic conditions are forcing households into difficult situations, with many going to bed hungry due to skyrocketing food prices. With Christmas just three days away, our correspondents visited local food markets in Lagos and Abuja to see how citizens are coping with the rising cost of goods and services.

In the locations, buyers and sellers expressed their frustrations over the increasing prices of food items.

At Agric Market in Ikorodu, Mummy Somto, lamented that she had never witnessed such high prices in her lifetime.

She noted that a chicken that cost N15,000 last year now sells for N35,000, with only older layers available for N15,000.

“What will that do for my family? We have never seen it like this in Nigeria. I hope this hope is the hope,” she said.

At Mile 12 International Market, trucks filled with perishable goods such as tomatoes, peppers, onions, cucumbers, potatoes, carrots, cabbages, and other vegetables were lined up for unloading while eager buyers waited nearby.

When asked about the high prices despite the abundance of food, truck owner Alhaji Shehu, explained that the situation arose from expenses related to diesel, farm security, police and military checkpoints before reaching Lagos.

He mentioned spending between N500,000 and N800,000 per truck, which inevitably raises prices.

“This is our business, and we are not pleased with the high costs either. If I sell my goods, I still need to buy what I don’t sell. It’s suffocating us. I also commend the buyers,” Shehu added.

Bags of rice

Mrs. Bukky Osagie, a rice vendor at Mike 12, shared her concerns about escalating prices: “Last December, a bag of rice was between N65,000 and N70,000. Today, it’s from N95,000 depending on the brand. Traders are exhausted. People are buying half bags because they can’t afford full ones. They also need to buy additional items. How do people survive this trend? This has to stop if the government truly cares for its citizens.”

At Daleko Market, Mrs. Hannah, was seen pricing vegetable oil when she declared, “Whether the devil likes it or not, we will celebrate with our families and share love during this season. We will just have to adjust our spending according to our means.”

As of the time of filing this report, a 25-liter container of vegetable oil was selling for between N86,000 and N95,000 depending on the brand.

Garri was priced at N56,000, while Ijebu Gaari was N58,000.

A carton of satchel tomatoes ranged from N8,800 to N9,200 while a pack of spaghetti cost N23,000.

70 grams of noodles were priced between N9,800 and N10,500. A roll of curry or thyme sold for N550 each, while small bulbs of onion reached as high as N200, making them almost unaffordable for many.

Christmas cheer

In Abuja, soaring food prices and steep transportation costs are casting a shadow over Christmas celebrations for many families.

The cost of essential holiday items, such as poultry, has surged, with chickens priced between ¦ 15,000 and ¦ 25,000, and turkeys reaching up to ¦ 130,000 in some markets.

Sunday Vanguard learned that rising feed prices, transportation costs, and supply chain disruptions are driving these increases.

Additionally, a 50-kg bag of rice now costs between ¦ 94,000 and ¦ 125,000, a significant leap from previous months.

Transportation fares have also skyrocketed, with transport fare from Abuja to major cities such as Lagos, Port Harcourt, and Enugu increasing from 15 percent to 35 percent in the past month.

For instance, a trip from Abuja to Lagos by road, which previously cost ¦ 28,000–¦ 35,000, now ranges between ¦ 46,500 and ¦ 60,000.

218 percent

Meanwhile, airfares have seen a staggering 218 percent increase since June, with one-way tickets on popular routes such as Abuja-Lagos, Abuja-Asaba and Abuja-Port Harcourt now costing as much as between ¦ 220,000 and ¦ 285,000.

Miriam Jagaba, a mother of four shopping at Utako Market in Abuja, said she had to scale back her plans for a family Christmas feast. “Last year, I bought a bag of rice for ¦ 75,000, but now it’s almost double. It’s heartbreaking,” she lamented.

The sharp rise in airfares, driven by operational costs and increased demand, has forced many Nigerians to cancel or modify their travel plans, with road travel becoming a more viable alternative.

However, road transport fares remain elevated, adding to the financial strain on holiday travellers.

Emeka Uzo, a trader at Jabi Motor Park, noted the impact on his business. “People are no longer travelling as much. Even buses are going half-empty because of the cost of tickets,” he said.

Burden

In response to the rising costs, Federal Government had introduced initiatives to ease the burden, including a 50 percent rebate on transport fares for return trips and free Compressed Natural Gas ,CNG, bus services in Abuja.

Free train transportation is also available in the capital for the festive period. Despite these measures, affordability remains a significant challenge for many Nigerians. But realities on the ground suggest that the interventions may not make any difference.

According to the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics ,NBS, food inflation in Abuja, currently over 40 percent, has contributed to the soaring prices of staple items such as rice, garri and poultry.

Other food items, including beans, tomatoes, and vegetables, have similarly seen steep price hikes.

Chicken

“Even a small broiler chicken for Christmas now costs between ¦ 20,000 and ¦ 35,000. How can the average family afford that?” asked Adamu Yusuf, a poultry seller in Dei-Dei Market.

Major markets in Abuja, including Wuse, Garki, Utako, Dei-Dei, and Gosa, remain popular shopping hubs for residents, offering varying prices for food and household items.

Transportation hubs like Jabi, Utako, and Zuba motor parks, along with Nyanya-Mararaba Terminal in neighbouring Nasarawa state, are facilitating interstate travel, with some offering rebates to ease costs. (Sunday Vanguard)