Against the popular saying, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away,” the reality of economic constraints has forced many Nigerians to neglect the importance of fruit consumption, despite its crucial role in boosting immunity......CONTINUE READING THE ARTICLE FROM THE SOURCE>>>>>
Fruits are nature’s nutrient-packed gifts, essential for a balanced diet and widely consumed across cultures for their taste, nutrition, and medicinal benefits.
They come in various types, colors, and flavors, each offering a wealth of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
Their notable benefits include strengthening the immune system, aiding digestion, supporting heart health, enhancing skin and hair, and regulating blood sugar.
Despite these benefits, many Nigerians now describe fruits as a “food for the rich” due to rising prices that have placed them out of reach for the average family.
Fruits Now A Luxury
Speaking to THE WHISTLER, Anita Yakubu, a 33-year-old cosmetics sales representative in Wuse, a cosmopolitan area of Abuja, shared that her family now consumes fruits only once a week.
Yakubu, a mother of three, revealed that it costs her family at least N7,000 to purchase a healthy bunch of bananas and pineapples, a price that has tripled in recent years.
She said, “My children love pineapples and bananas. It has always been the fruit they are excited to eat, and I don’t buy those portioned in bits. I prefer buying them whole and dicing them at home.
Pineapple fruit (2)
“On a good day, a bunch of pineapples and bananas should cost about N2,500. This price depends on size and could be cheaper for smaller sizes. But now, a healthy bunch costs about N7,000.
“My husband and I have decided to eat fruits only on Sundays. Before now, we had them at least three times a week.”
Health experts stressed that fruits play a crucial role in children’s development by providing essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber that boost immunity, support brain function, and promote strong bones.
Replacing processed snacks with fruits can also prevent obesity, improve digestion, and encourage lifelong healthy eating habits.
Asked what she substitutes for fruits in her children’s diet, Yakubu told THE WHISTLER that while nothing can fully replace the nutrients fruits provide, she has increased her kids’ vegetable consumption while avoiding processed foods.
“I made sure they eat more vegetables than snacks. They also drink more water instead of packaged juice,” she said.
Similarly, Ibukun Bolaji shared that apples and grapes are no longer part of her children’s diet due to rising costs. She now prioritizes oranges and watermelons, which are more affordable.
She explained that while seven red apples, priced at N700 each, would cost her N4,900, a big-sized watermelon goes for N3,500, and at least twelve oranges is N1,400 a more cost-effective alternative.
“We have always loved grapes and apples,” Bolaji told THE WHISTLER. “The last time I checked, a pack of grapes was selling for N7,000 or more. With a family of seven, that would amount to roughly N49,000. Before now, we bought them at N1,600, and during scarcity, N2,000.
“The price difference is too much, and we need money for other family expenses. So, we switched to more affordable fruits, watermelon and oranges.
“It has always been said that an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but now fruits are an essentiality of the rich.”
Despite the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization recommending a daily intake of at least 400 grams of fruits and vegetables, the harsh economic reality has made it difficult for many families to afford them.
Oluchi Simon, a 29-year-old NYSC corps member in Abuja, shared that she now buys fruits only when necessary, unlike before, when she would stock up on a variety.
“I love making fruit juices and trying new recipes. Before, when I visited the market, I would buy fruits in bulk and stock them in my fridge. But now, if it is not necessary, I won’t buy it.
“This doesn’t mean I don’t eat fruits, but I mostly consume them when I am sick.”
Fruit Prices Surge by Over 300 per cent
Prompted by these concerns, THE WHISTLER visited two major fruit markets Zuba Fruit Market in Abuja and the Orange Market in Mararaba, Nasarawa State—to investigate the rising costs.
Findings revealed that the prices of fruits have surged by over 300 per cent depending on how they are sold.
Findings revealed that a dozen of large pineapples now cost N20,000, up from N5,000—a 300 per cent increase.
A set of four coconuts has risen by 400 per cent, now selling for N4,000 instead of N800 in 2020.
Coconut fruit
A mudu of dates (dabino) costs N4,000, with a 50kg bag priced at N360,000, up from N72,000 in 2021.
Dates fruit
Fresh tiger nuts (Aya) are sold for N2,000 per mudu, a 534 per cent increase from N300 per mudu in previous years.
Tigernut fruit
Speaking with THE WHISTLER, Mallam Adamu Ali, a trader at the Orange Market, Nyanya, Nasarawa attributed the price hikes to rising transportation costs.
“One of the best oranges comes from Osun State because of its sweetness and ripeness. But traders here can’t afford the high transportation costs, so most oranges in this market come from Benue or Nasarawa.
Lime fruit
“A 100kg bag of oranges now sells for N23,000. In 2019, it was N6,000, and in 2021, N8,500. That means four oranges now cost N400, something we used to sell for N100.”
Idris Sariki, a watermelon distributor, added that insecurity in the North—where watermelons are primarily cultivated—has significantly affected supply and transportation costs.
“I used to farm watermelons in Kebbi State between November and April, the dry season, to avoid diseases. My wife would arrange for the harvest and transport them to me.
Watermelon fruit
“But in the last two years, I haven’t visited my hometown because of insecurity. My family is here with me.
“Those who still farm back home are few, and the cost of transporting the fruits is high. This is why prices will keep rising.”
Apple Scarcity Hits the Market
During THE WHISTLER’s visit, apples were notably absent from the market. Traders cited high importation and transportation costs as reasons for their declining availability.
Adamu Yakubu, a fruit dealer, explained, “A big green apple sells for N450, while the small size is N350. A big red apple is N630, while the small is N560. At retail, the big red apple is N700, and the small is N600.
“Back in 2020, three green apples were N200, and three red apples were N300. But now, demand has dropped because customers are no longer buying.”
Yakubu blamed declining sales on rising logistics costs, forcing retailers to cut back on orders.
Amid rising costs, experts warned that Nigeria’s economic reforms must address food price inflation, insecurity, and transportation costs to ease the burden on citizens.
Recall that the President Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) Emeka Obegolu lamented the persistent surge in the price of food commodities across the country.
Obegulu said the situation, if unaddressed, would cripple small-scale businesses, which are struggling to adjust to various economic reforms by the President Tinubu-led administration.
According to the rebasing, Nigeria’s headline inflation rate dropped to 24.48 per cent year-on-year in January 2025, based on a 2024 baseline.
The recent report highlights a drop in the general price level of goods and services compared to the 34.80 per cent recorded in December 2024, which was calculated using the 2019 methodology.
The rebased food inflation index stood at 26.08 per cent year-on-year in January 2025, indicating a decline from the 39.84 per cent recorded in December 2024.
However, experts have warned that the rebasing is a game of numbers as opposed to the harsh realities faced by the average Nigerians.