.Traders, consumers lament as crayfish price soars in Lagos markets
.Price of cattle rises, consumers, butchers groan
CHIGOZIE AMADI
An Economist, Ephraim Audu, has attributed insecurity as the primary cause of food inflation in Benue, calling on the Federal Government to urgently tackle the menace across the country.
Audu, the National President, Agricultural Agenda Nigeria Initiative (AANI), said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday.
He was reacting to the latest Inflation figures by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) for April.
The NBS had said the food inflation rate in April 2025 was 21.26 per cent on a year-on-year basis, with Benue recording the highest food inflation rate at 51.76 per cent on a year-on-year basis and 25.59 per cent on a month-on-month basis.
The report said on a month-on-month basis, the food inflation rate in April was 2.06 per cent, which decreased by 0.12 per cent compared to the 2.18 per cent recorded in March 2025.
The NBS said the decrease in food inflation was attributed to the reduction in average prices of items such as Maize (Corn) Flour, Wheat Grain, Okro Dried, Yam Flour, Soya Beans, Rice, Bambara beans, Brown Beans, etc
He, however, said he was not convinced that food inflation had dropped because the prices of food items were still on the increase.
Audu said it was sad to note that, even though Benue was the food basket of the nation, it recorded the highest level of food inflation.
He explained that less than three per cent of the population in Benue had access to civil service jobs, which meant over 80 per cent of the population were predominantly farmers.
“So now, their farms have been under attack. The insecurity will not allow these farmers a larger percentage of the populace, to have access to their farms, nor to produce.
“That has affected the dependency on their livelihoods, so why won’t there be high inflation of food items in Benue?”
The expert also gave another reason for food inflation to be the value chain, stating that there was a hyper increase in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) also known as fuel, and diesel due to the removal of subsidy.
Audu said that PMS and diesel were major determinants of the prices of goods and services.
“ Those guys are irrigation farmers, producing primarily products, and they use irrigation machines that use either petrol or diesel to pump their machines to work.
“So if Mr A buys petrol every day at the rate of N920 per litre, which he needs at least 10 litres a day to cultivate his farm, approximately N9,000. He uses N9,000 daily in a month. How much is that?
“So, now, if he is cultivating one or two hectares, how many tons is he expected to generate from those two hectares, certainly less than 16 tons.
“How much is the prevailing market price? So, that farmer has to factor in all the costs he has already incurred in the process of cultivating that product.
“So, that is why no professional analyst will tell you that there is a decline in the price of food.”
He also stated that the current headline inflation rate, which dropped to 23.71 per cent, as reported by the NBS, does not reflect the current realities on ground.
The economist said food, house rents, and transportation costs were still on the increase, saying that many Nigerians could barely afford to eat a proper meal daily.
He, therefore, called on the Federal Government to revitalise the refineries in the country and give licences for modular refineries across the comparative states.
According to him, if this is achieved, then the Dangote, government, and modular refineries will go into competition, and the price of PMS and diesel will drastically reduce.
Audu saidd that the Federal Government must prioritise both human and food security, so farmers could have access to their farms without fear.
He also recommended that the Federal Government invest, if possible, 60 per cent of the total budget for now on agriculture, which would help achieve food sufficiency and attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDIs) .
“This will lead to an increase in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Gross National Product. Consequently, foreign investors will open their portfolios, enhancing export opportunities, thereby, building and strengthening our exchange rates and foreign reserves.”
Audu added that the Federal Government should implement price regulations to prevent hoarding and price inflation.
He said, as a matter of urgency, the Federal Government must address the issues in the power sector, saying that without power, “all that we have mentioned would be inconsequential.”
Audu said the Federal Government should give single-digit intervention funds with a favourable moratorium for entrepreneurs, businesses, and farmers, while interfacing and supporting the value chain manufacturers and processors.
He said that the government and private sector should increase workers’ salaries to match the increasing costs of goods, services, and transportation, noting that the purchasing power of Nigerians is weak.
However, the price of crayfish has skyrocketed in major markets in Lagos State making many consumers to resort to rationalisation of the popular seafood due to low purchasing power.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a paint bucket of crayfish which sold for N4,000 to N5,000 in early 2024 now costs between N12,500 and N14,000.
Similarly, a measurement that once went for N40,000 now sells for N75,000 to N80,000.
A ‘Derica’ cup, formerly N1,000, now sells for N3,000 to N4,000.
Also, a basket of crayfish currently goes for between N260,000 and N350,000.
The traders and consumers who spoke to NAN in separate interviews on Sunday in Lagos expressed concerns over the price hike of the popular seafood staple.
The treasurer of Oyingbo Foodstuff Market Association, Lagos, Mrs Abigail Onu, said the high cost was because crayfish was currently out of season.
“Crayfish is scarce and expensive during the off-season, affecting both quantity and quality, with partially filled bags and reduced freshness.
“The crayfish you will buy now will not be as fresh as when it is in its season.
“At the moment, a measurement of crayfish costs between N75,000 and N80,000, depending on the type. In contrast, when in season, that same measurement can drop to as low as N40,000.
“Dealers are struggling to meet demand. The majority of our dealers don’t even have crayfish to sell,” Onu said.
She noted that the price hike, which began in February, was not new to the market.
“It is a trend that repeats every year.
“From June, the crayfish season begins, and buyers can expect better quality and significantly lower prices,” she said.
A crayfish seller at Oyingbo Market, Mrs Ugomma Maduekwe, attributed the development to off seasonal and increased export demands.
“Crayfish is not in season right now, which is why it’s scarce and expensive. We cannot also rule out the increasing export demand.
“The export of crayfish is impacting local supplies, as many buyers now export in bulk to markets offering higher prices, reducing availability in domestic markets
“It means we have less for local consumers, and that’s affecting prices,” Maduekwe said.
Another trader at the Alimosho Market, Mrs Idaya Mashika, highlighted poor storage conditions as a challenge for traders.
“Crayfish spoils easily when not stored properly, especially in this kind of humid weather. If you lose a bag, that’s tens of thousands gone. We sell at higher prices to cover the risk and potential losses,” Mashika said.
She added that traders were being cautious with supply because of spoilage.
“Most of us don’t stock too much anymore. We buy in smaller quantities, and that makes prices unstable,” she added.
A consumer, Mrs Adebanke Agbo, said she had to reduce the amount of crayfish she buys.
“I used to cook with crayfish in nearly every meal. Now, I measure it carefully. I still buy it because no seasoning cube can give that traditional taste that crayfish gives, but it’s getting harder to afford.
“Crayfish adds a deep, rich taste to my meals. I can’t cook egusi or ogbono soup without it. It’s expensive now, but I just buy smaller quantities,” Agbo said.
Another consumer, Mrs Oluyemisi Akewushola, said nothing can replace the taste you get from cooking with crayfish.
“I don’t see alternatives for crayfish. It just has to be crayfish or nothing. What I do is buy what I can afford and manage it until I can buy more.
“I had to buy a derica of crayfish at the Oyingbo Market for N3,000 when I couldn’t afford to buy a small paint bucket that was going for N12,500.
“I bought it for N10,000 last month, now it’s N12,500. And I heard it might go up again. I can’t stop using it completely, so, I just buy less and make it stretch.
I have also observed that most traders don’t even have fresh crayfish. Most of the ones I have seen in the market looks dried out and dirty,” Akewushola said.
NAN reports that crayfish is more than just an ingredient in Nigerian kitchens. It is a cornerstone of flavour.
Whether ground into powder or used whole, crayfish delivers a savoury punch that elevates the most basic meal into a deeply satisfying experience.
Crayfish is especially valued in dishes like egusi soup, ogbono soup, okra, and native jollof rice.
In many homes, it’s considered non-negotiable in daily cooking, with some households even buy in bulk to store through the year.
The use of crayfish dates back generations, especially in coastal communities where fishing is a way of life.
