Nigerians have had to budget more to buy food items against the backdrop of dwindling income, highlighting the pressure confronting households, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has revealed.
In its latest report on selected food price watch, there was an increase in prices of bread, rice, cereals, potatoes, eggs, yam, meat, fruits, oil, fish among others.
According to the report, one dozen of Agric eggs medium size increased year-on-year by 15.62 per cent and month-on-month by 1.46 per cent to N518.30 in February 2021 from N510. 84 in January 2021.
The NBS also said the average price of a piece of Agric eggs medium size (the price of one) increased year-on-year by 20.50 per cent and month-on-month by 2.47 per cent to N47.35 in February 2021 from N46.21 in January 2021.
The average price of 1kg of tomato also increased year-on-year by 11.33 per cent and decreased month-on-month by -7.07% to N269.18 in February 2021 from N289.66 in January 2021.
The average price of 1kg of rice (imported high quality sold loose) increased year-on-year by 21.02 per cent and decreased month-on-month by -2.57 per cent to N537.37 in February 2021 from N551.57 in January 2021.
Similarly, the average price of 1kg of yam tuber increased year-on-year by 28.11 per cent and month on month by 3.47 per cent to N242.82 in February 2021 from N234.67 in January 2021.
The record also showed that the price of ripe 1kg plantain increased by 2.92 per cent to N237.04. Year on year it increased by 14.06 per cent.
One litre of oil also increased by 1.93 per cent to N667.43. Abia State residents paid N894.12 the highest among the 36 states.
2kg of wheat flour also increased by 13.55 per cent to N758.55 from the price it sold in February 2020. Abia residents paid the highest amount N933.33 while Kwara paid N660.74 the lowest.
Defending the numbers, the NBS explained that fieldwork was carried out by more than 700 of its staff in all states of the federation supported by supervisors who were monitored by internal and external observers.
It said the NBS audit team subsequently conducted randomly selected verification of the prices recorded.