"Let the Poor Breathe": Kwara Leads List of 5 Most Expensive States to Buy Food in Nigeria
- The NBS has provided insight into how many breadwinners in Nigerian households were stressed about providing food for loved ones
- While some Nigerians in certain states enjoyed relative ease, residents of five states, led by Kwara, were forced to pay more to eat
- This is happening as Naira in the hands of Nigerians continues to lose its value amid rising inflation
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The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), in its latest Consumer Price Index report, revealed that Nigeria's inflation rate accelerated to 22.79% on a year-on-year basis in June 2023.
June's inflation rate is the highest in over 17 years and 0.38% points higher compared to the 22.41% inflation rate recorded in May 2023.
Source: UGC
Cost of food items
Food inflation is essential for measuring how burdened Nigerian households have become. The NBS revealed that the inflation touched a new high of 25.25% year-on-year, and it could worsen in the coming months.
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Punch reports also showed that on a month-on-month comparison, Nigeria's food inflation rate in June 2023 was 2.40%, 0.21% points higher than in May 2023 (2.19%).
This shows that Nigerian households were forced to spend more on food items such as oil and fat, bread and cereals, fish, potatoes, yams, other tubers, fruits, meat, vegetables, milk, cheese, and eggs.
Little wonder the phrase, "Let the poor breathe. Don’t suffocate them”, used by President Bola Tinubu in a viral video, has become popular.
The most expensive states to buy food
Kwara
Kwara emerged as the most expensive state to buy food in Nigeria for June, according to NBS data.
It showed that for residents of the South West state, the cost of food accelerated by 30.80%.
This is interesting, given that Kwara state is known as an efficient food-producing state, thanks to its favourable climate and fertile soil that make it suitable for various agricultural activities.
Lagos
The commercial city of Lagos ranks second in the list of most expensive states to buy food.
According to NBS, food items in the state increased by 30.37% yearly.
Kogi
Kogi, the neighbouring state to Kwara, had a food inflation rate of 29.71% for June, making it the third-highest in the country.
Despite being an agricultural state with arable land suitable for cash crops, staple crops, and subsistence farming, residents of Kogi are spending more to buy food every month.
Ondo
Ondo, also rich in agriculture, is the fourth most expensive state where residents pay more for food.
NBS report stated that food inflation in the state increased to 29.17% in June on a year-on-year basis.
Imo
Imo State completes the top five list of the most expensive states to buy food with a food inflation rate of 28.04% in June 2023.
Just like many other states in Nigeria, Imo State is blessed with fertile soil, and agriculture has played a pivotal role in economic development over the past decades.
However, most agricultural activities in the state remain at the subsistence peasant farming level.
Bread supply threatened as rising flour costs fuel conflict between bakers and millers
In related news, Legit.ng reported how the Premium Bread Makers Association of Nigeria, PBAN, disagreed with the claim that the price of flour has not increased in the last year.
This comes after the announcement by the Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria, AMBCH, on the planned bread price hike.
Emmanuel Onuorah, President of PBAN, accused the flour millers of implementing another increase in the price of flour after the naira devaluation.
Source: Legit.ng
