Food prices in Nigeria have shot through the roof. But is the pandemic to blame?

COVID-19 has had a dire effect on global economies. Rising infection rates have led to social distancing directives, persistent lockdowns, the closing of businesses, travel restraints, salary cuts, and a looming high unemployment situation. Economic activity has shrunk dramatically, and with it the food supply value chain globally. The story for Nigeria has been no different. The country has instituted a range of measures to try to curb the pandemic. These have included waves of lockdowns in major cities, border closures and people’s movement being restricted. These measures have affected all sectors of the economy. But food supply has taken the most severe hit. In a recently published paper I look at what’s happened to food prices in Nigeria. I found that prices had risen dramatically between February and June 2020. I then set about tracing the reasons for these price hikes. I concluded that the measures taken to contain COVD-19 have indeed had a major impact on food supplies in ...