Shoppers in Enugu are feeling the pinch at the vegetable stalls. A market survey conducted by the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday found that the prices of onions and tomatoes have risen significantly compared to what buyers were paying just a few months ago.
The increases are hitting everyday households where it hurts most, since both ingredients sit at the heart of Nigerian cooking. From party jollof to weeknight stews, there is almost no meal that escapes the need for a fresh tomato base or a good handful of onions.
No official explanation for the spike has been given yet, but anyone who has stopped by a market recently already knows the answer is in the price tags. The question now is how long buyers, and their budgets, can hold out.
Originally published by Premium Times.