Yobe markets record soaring prices of essential food items
Story by Kasim Isa MUHAMMAD
Residents of Potiskum Local Government Area and neighbouring Ngalda town in Fika Local Government Area of Yobe State are grappling with rising food prices as the cost of staple grains continues to increase in the region’s major grain markets.
A market survey conducted on Monday, 19th May 2025, reveals a significant surge in the prices of essential food items such as maize, millet, rice, sorghum, and beans, with some commodities experiencing hikes of up to 15 per cent in recent weeks.
In Potiskum’s hatsi (grains) market, a bag of maize now sells between ₦53,000 and ₦55,000, while millet goes for ₦53,000 to ₦54,000.
Sorghum (dawa) also witnessed a rise, with the ‘Ɗan Lodi’ variety priced between ₦38,000 and ₦40,000, and the Kaura variety selling at ₦45,000 to ₦47,000 per bag.
Beans, a staple protein source for many households, have not been spared. A bag of white beans (misra) now costs between ₦88,000 and ₦90,000, while the large-seeded white beans are priced at ₦85,000 to ₦90,000.
The red variety of beans goes as high as ₦95,000 to ₦96,000 per bag.
READ ALSO: Prices of beans shoot up while costs of other grains drop at Potiskum Market
Prices of condiments and other dry produce have also soared. Zobo leaves (hibiscus flower) and gurguzu now retail between ₦20,000 and ₦21,000, while guna is sold for ₦28,000 to ₦35,000. The cost of locally processed rice has climbed to ₦125,000 per bag.
Groundnut, a key cash crop in the region, is now sold at ₦130,000 to ₦135,000, while gangala, a grain used in local cuisines, fetches ₦170,000 to ₦175,000.
Traders in Ngalda’s satellite markets said that a variety of guinea corn (akwaro Ɗan Ngalda) is now priced between ₦21,000 and ₦23,000, while dawa from Wala and Wuyo sells at ₦43,000 to ₦44,000.
Many traders attribute the price increases to seasonal scarcity, high transportation costs due to fuel price hikes, and insecurity along major transport routes.
Market watchers warn that if the trend continues unchecked, food insecurity in parts of Yobe State could worsen, especially as the rainy season approaches and households begin to prioritise planting over food storage.
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