Yam costs surge in Lagos markets, sparking complaints from vendors and buyers

Yam prices in Lagos markets have seen significant fluctuations, with traders pointing to transportation costs, seasonal supply patterns, and sourcing challenges as the main factors driving the increase. The cost of transporting yams has become a crucial consideration for both traders and consumers when making purchasing decisions.

n

As one of Nigeria's most widely consumed staples, yams are a common feature in many households, where they are eaten boiled, fried, roasted, or pounded. Yams are sold in various markets across Lagos, including neighbourhood markets and major wholesale hubs like Oyingbo Market and Mile 12 Market.

n

Traders at these markets attract bulk buyers looking for lower prices, but consumers often weigh the costs of transportation and convenience when deciding where to shop. While larger markets may offer lower prices, the added costs of transportation can sometimes offset the savings.

n

According to traders and consumers interviewed on Sunday, yam prices have risen substantially compared to previous years, with seasonal supply shortages and rising sourcing costs cited as key factors. Prices for tubers have increased, with those that sold for between N1,200 and N2,000 in 2025 now costing between N2,500 and N3,500, depending on size and origin.

n

Larger, higher-quality yam tubers command higher prices, while smaller varieties remain more affordable for low-income buyers. Mr Ibrahim Hassan, a yam trader at Oyingbo Market, noted that fresh harvests are still limited due to the new planting season having just begun.

n

Hassan predicted that prices could nearly double by August, saying, "They are planting yams now, and by August, the yams we are buying for N2,500 to N3,000 could sell for nearly double." Another trader, Mrs Jumoke Fakunle, also at Oyingbo Market, said that yam prices are largely determined by the size of the tubers.

n

According to Fakunle, the cheapest yams available at Oyingbo Market range from N2,500 to N3,500, with prices generally lower in major markets compared to neighbourhood markets. Mrs Abiodun Ariyo, a trader at Mile 12 Market, also noted that yam prices have increased compared to the same period in 2025.

n

Ariyo said that tubers currently selling for between N2,500 and N3,000 were priced between N1,200 and N2,000 around the same time last year. Mrs Kehinde Adebayo, another trader at Oyingbo Market, attributed the relatively lower prices at her market to bulk purchases and direct access to suppliers.

n

According to Adebayo, customers buying at Oyingbo Market enjoy better prices due to the market's direct access to suppliers, saying, "We receive trailers from the North, so customers buying here enjoy better prices than in smaller roadside markets." She added that retailers in smaller markets often buy from wholesale hubs and add transportation and other expenses before reselling.

n

Mrs Amaka Njoku, a consumer, preferred buying yams from nearby markets, citing that the prices suited her smaller household purchases. Njoku said, "If we compare it to when yams were very high and a tuber sold for almost N10,000, I think N2,500 to N3,500 is fair enough now."

n

Njoku also noted that once transportation costs are factored in, travelling to major markets may not always be worth it. In contrast, another consumer, Mrs Titilope Adekeye, preferred shopping at larger markets where prices are often lower.

n

Adekeye said, "I recently bought yams for between N1,500 and N2,500 per tuber. I don’t see why I should pay more elsewhere when I can get cheaper options." Mrs Funmilayo Ajayi, a resident of Surulere, now buys yams from Oyingbo Market due to the high prices in her local market.

n

Ajayi said, "In my area, one yam can cost N4,000, but at Oyingbo, I get better sizes for less. Even after transport costs, I still save money." The varying prices of yams in Lagos markets highlight the impact of transportation costs, market location, and seasonal supply on food purchasing decisions among residents.