Former United Nations envoy, Professor Joy Ezeilo, has expressed concerns about Nigeria’s crippling food inflation, citing a significant increase in rice prices between 2023 and 2024.
As the Executive Director of Women Aid Collective, Ezeilo cautioned those fulfilling Christmas charity obligations to be mindful of the widespread hunger in communities.
Ezeilo, who took to her verified X handle @NgoziEzeilo to raised the concerns, on Monday night, shared a three-year price list of different quantities of rice from 2022 to 2024, highlighting the alarming rate of inflation. Notably, the price of 1kg of tomatoes skyrocketed by 320.67% year-on-year, from ₦547.28 in June 2023 to ₦2,302.26 in June 2024.
The former UN Special Rapporteur on Human Trafficking advised those distributing aid to plan effectively, implement crowd control measures, involve security personnel, and distribute aid in open spaces with multiple escape routes.
This comes as millions of Nigerians face increased hardship under the current administration, with many struggling to access basic necessities.
She wrote: “In fulfilling the Christmas charity obligations for Christians who can afford it, we must be mindful of the hunger in our communities, as millions are in need now more than ever. Therefore, it’s crucial to plan effectively, implement crowd control measures, involve security personnel, and distribute aid in open spaces with multiple escape routes.
“I conduct targeted distribution without prior announcements. However, the rising cost of rice poses a challenge, making it difficult to provide the usual number of giveaways.”
Crippling Inflation: Prices of Rice:
She said that rice prices have significant increased from 2022 to 2024. “Prices for different quantities of rice have more than doubled in some cases.”
**Price Comparison**
– **5kg Rice:**
– 2024 Dec: N10,000
– 2023 Dec: N4,500
– 2022: N3,000
– **10kg Rice:**
– 2024 Dec: N20,000
– 2023 Dec: N9,000
– 2022: N5,000
– **25kg Rice:**
– 2024 Dec: N46,000
– 2023 Dec: N20,000
– 2022: N12,000
– **40kg Rice:**
– 2024 Dec: N74,000
– 2023 Dec: N32,000
– 2022: Data not available
– **50kg Rice:**
– 2024 Dec: N90,000
– 2023 Dec: N40,000
– 2022: N24,000
