By Prosper Mene, April 9, 2025
Nigeria faces an unrelenting economic crisis, the skyrocketing cost of food is hitting the nation’s women hardest, exacerbating their daily struggles to provide for their families. With food inflation reaching a staggering 40.9% in 2024, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), and projections of 33.1 million Nigerians facing acute food insecurity this year, women, who often bear the brunt of household responsibilities, are finding it increasingly difficult to make ends meet.
In markets across Lagos, the reality of the price hikes is stark. A 50kg bag of rice, a staple for most Nigerian families, now costs between ₦110,000 and ₦120,000, up from ₦25,000–₦28,000 in 2022, as reported by recent market analyses. A single yam tuber averages ₦6,000, while a basket of tomatoes has surged to ₦18,000. For the average Nigerian woman, these prices are more than a financial strain, they’re a daily battle. “I used to buy a bag of rice for my family of five for ₦30,000 last year,” said Mercy Okon, a 38-year-old mother and petty trader in Igando Market. “Now, I can barely afford half that amount, and we’re eating less every day.”
The root causes of this crisis are multifaceted. The removal of fuel subsidies in May 2023 led to a 156% hike in fuel prices, driving up transportation costs and, consequently, food prices. Insecurity in food-producing regions like the Northeast and North-Central has displaced farmers, with over 3 million people uprooted due to conflict. Climate change, marked by flooding and droughts, has further reduced agricultural output, while the naira’s depreciation, losing 230% of its value against the dollar in the past year, has made imported goods, including food, far more expensive. A World Food Programme (WFP) report from November 2024 warned that 5.4 million children and nearly 800,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women are at risk of acute malnutrition in states like Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe.
For women, the impact is particularly severe. Many are primary caregivers, responsible for feeding their families, yet they often earn less than men and face systemic barriers to economic opportunities. “I sell vegetables to support my three children, but my daily profit has dropped from ₦2,000 to ₦500 because customers can’t afford to buy,” said Fatima Abdullahi, a 42-year-old widow in Wuse Market. “We now eat once a day, and my children are always hungry.” This story shows a broader trend: women, men and children are forced to skip meals, reduce portion sizes, or switch to less nutritious foods, leading to health issues like malnutrition and stunting in children.
The economic strain is also fueling social tensions. In Kogi State, women protested half-naked on April 8 to highlight rising insecurity and kidnappings, which have disrupted food supply chains and driven prices higher.
Experts warn that without intervention, the situation will worsen. The WFP’s Cadre Harmonisé analysis projects that the number of Nigerians facing emergency levels of food insecurity will nearly double in 2025. “Women are disproportionately affected because they’re often the ones managing household budgets and nutrition,” said Dr. Amina Bello, a nutritionist in Abuja. “The government must prioritize food security and support for women, or we’ll see a generation of children grow up malnourished and a workforce too weak to drive economic growth.”
Some women are adapting through resilience and ingenuity. In Lagos, cooperatives are pooling resources to buy food in bulk, while others are turning to seasonal produce to cut costs. However, these strategies can only go so far. “We need real solutions—better security for farmers, subsidies for food production, and policies that stabilize prices,” said Mercy Okon.
Nigerian women continue to navigate this crisis with grit day in, day out, but their plea for systemic change grows louder by the day.
