Prices of most food items, goods and services have increased in different markets in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and its environs, according to a survey.

NAN study in Abuja on Sunday, showed that the increase in the prices of food and services was due to the hike in the pump price of petroleum products occasioned by the Middle East crisis.

The development had also caused a strain on both traders, business owners, consumers and other citizens as many households say they now spent more on feeding and to acquire basic goods and services.

Both business owners, traders and consumers are lamenting the impact of the hike on their businesses and lifestyle.

They called for urgent government’s intervention to cushion the effect of the price hike.

At the popular Orange market located at the Abuja-Keffi road referred to as the ‘hub of bulk food market’, a big basket of tomatoes which sold between N9,000 and N10,000 in February was during the visit sold between N30,000 and N35,000.

A big bag of onions which sold for between N15,000 to N25,000 was now being sold for between N40,000 and N45,000 while a dustbin basket of onions which used to be sold for between N3,000 and N3,500 was now being sold for between N4,000 and N5,000.

At Lugbe market, a dustbin basket of sweet potatoes which sold for between N1,000 and N1,200 was now being sold for between N2,000 and N2,500.

Five tubers of yam which sold for between N6,000 and N6,500 was now being sold for between N8,000 and N10,000 depending on the size.

One module (mudu) of white beans which was sold for between N800 and N1300 was now being sold for between N1,500 and N1,600 while brown beans which was N1,500 was now N1,800.

At Orozo market, five tubers of medium sized yam sold for between N5,000 and N6,000 were now being sold for between N8,500 and N9,000 while the small size ones were being sold for N5,000.

A module (mudu) of brown beans formerly sold for between N600 and N700 was now being sold for N1,300.

At Karu market, big basket of tomatoes which sold for N32,000 was now being sold for between N38,000 and N40,000

A small basket of pepper which was sold for N5, 000 before, was now being sold for N9,000 while a small dustbin basket of tatashe was now being sold for N6,000.

Five pieces of big sized yam were now being sold for N15,000 as against N12,000 while a small basket of onions now went for N5,500 as against the N4,000 initial price.

At Wuse market, a small dustbin basket of tomatoes sold for between N3,000 and N24,000 was now being sold for between N6,000 and N8,000.

A dustbin basket of pepper which sold for N7,000 now went for between N9,000 and N10,000 while the same measure of tatashe was now being sold for N7,000.

A big sized tuber of yam was now being sold at Wuse market for between N10,000 and N15,000 while a small sized one now went for N8,000.

At Utako market, a dustbin basket of sweet potatoes formally sold between N1,500 and N2,000 was now being sold between N3,000 and N4,000.

A dustbin basket of onions at the same market was now being sold for between N5,000 and N6,000 as against N3,500 and N4,000.

At Garki Modern Market, NAN observed a slight increase and decrease in the prices of some food items, while others remained unchanged.

A dustin basket of big tomatoes dropped from N5,000 to between N4,000 and N4,500, while a dustin basket of Shombo increased from N3,500 to N4,000.

A dustin basket of onions increased from N3,500 to N4,000 while a dustin basket of tatashe increased from N4,000 to N4,500.

At Nyanya market, the price of a medium sized yam sold for between N5,000 and N6,000 was now being sold for between N8,500 and N9,000.

The prices of ice blocks, bags of sachet water and cold drinks had increased due to epileptic power supply and hike in price of fuel and diesel.

Simon Adolo, an Imueti Table Water Distributor, said the hike in the price of bags of sachet water was due to the increase in the price of diesel.

Adolo said the company now sold a bag of sachet water to shops at the rate of N450 or N500 as against N300 and N350 sold before.

He appealed to the Federal Government to find lasting solutions to electricity problems in the country to enable small businesses to thrive.

Esther Gabriel, an ice-block dealer in Nyanya market, said the price of her blocks had increased from N500 to N800 depending on the size.

Gabriel said the increase was due to the epileptic power supply in the area.

At the Apo Resettlement Area, a resident, Agnes Joseph, said a bag of sachet water formerly sold between N350 and N400 is now sold between N450 and N500.

Similarly, Rosemary Akor, a resident of Apo, also decried the increasing cost of some services due to the increased cost of fuel and electricity tariff.

Akor said her two children had a haircut just a few weeks ago for N1,400.

Rebecca Terve, a baker in the Nyanya area, lamented the increase in the prices of every material used for baking.

Alhaji Jibrin Abdullahi, a yam seller at Nyanya market, said the transportation fare used to bring a trip of yam from Benue State to Abuja had tripled.

Abdullahi appealed to the government to support them to cushion the effect of the crisis on their businesses.

Ifeoma Atuegwu, a customer and single mother of three children said her standard of living was dropping on a daily basis.

Atuegwu appealed to the government to address the factors contributing to the price hike, especially the cost of transportation to help stabilise the market and standard of living of citizens.

An expert on power, Princewill Okorie, has called on the Federal Government to establish a separate electricity consumer protection unit or agency to generate data.

Okorie, who is also the Executive Director, Electricity Consumers Protection Advocacy Centre made the call while speaking in Abuja on Sunday.

He said that the unit would relate with consumers across the country.

”As we speak today, there is no accurate data on the investments of consumers because there is no consumer-centric approach in managing the sector.

”If they want to make the sector work there has to be a separate electricity consumer protection unit or agency standing on its own to generate data and relate with consumers across the country.

”The unit should be able to look at the quantity of supply to consumers as well as the revenue and investment they have put into the sector, ‘’ he said.

Okorie also said that there was an urgent need to organise a national electricity consumers conference on the repositioning of the power sector.

”What we are clamouring for in order to reposition the sector is a national electricity consumer conference.

”Let there be an all stakeholders’ conference especially for the consumers on repositioning the sector.

Okorie said that the idea of just hearing from only the Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) or the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) without hearing from consumers had continued to destroy the sector.

According to him, decisions are not properly taken and this is not good for the sector.

He said that there was no effective monitoring of the sector adding that it was important for consumers to be involved in the activities going on in the sector.

From Ayinde Akintade, Osogbo

Passengers who thronged Osun State for the celebration of 2026 Eid-El-Fitri have successfully returned to their base yesterday, describing Governor Ademola Adeleke as a GOD-sent, passionate leader who deserves accolades for effective governance and delivery of democracy dividends.

The Imole Free Train initiative of the current administration was also described as setting the priorities right to ease the burden of the citizenry.

Thousands of passengers who arrived at Osun State on Thursday evening through the Imole Free Train Ride, prayed fervently for Governor Ademola Adeleke and his team for coming to their aid in celebrating the Eid with their loved ones without paying a dime for transportation.

Recall that different holidaymakers have boarded the Imole Free Train Ride from Lagos, Ogun and Oyo States to their various destinations, absolutely free of charge. The last batch of the passengers alighted at the Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo around 8:00pm on Thursday.

Receiving the passengers, the Honourable Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Rev. Dr. Bunmi Jenyo appreciated the Governor and charged them to use the opportunity to experience the giant strides of the current administration in every nook and cranny of the State and support the Governor in his second term bid come August 15th 2026.

Having satisfactorily enjoyed the Eid celebration with family and loved ones over the weekend, Imole Free Train Ride departed Osogbo, the State Capital at exactly 10:00am on Sunday morning.

Moreover, the Imole Free Train Initiative, aimed at reducing the pains of the masses residing in Oyo, Ogun and Lagos States, will continue during the Easter celebration.

The Imole Free Train for Easter celebration will take off with passengers at Iddo Terminus, Lagos on Friday 3rd April, 2026, with stopovers at Abeokuta and Ibadan train stations to pick passengers to Osun State at 10:00am prompt.

The Return Trip shall take place at the Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo on Monday 6th April, 2026 at 10:00am.

The Imole Free Train Ride is Governor Ademola Adeleke’s Initiative, anchored by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Osun State.