Nigerian activist Just Adetoun has raised alarm over skyrocketing food prices across local markets.
She questioned how families can cope when basic items now cost tens of thousands.
Popular Nigerian activist, Just Adetoun, has voiced her frustration over the escalating prices of food items across the country.
Taking to social media, she shared her recent experience at the market, expressing disbelief at the cost of basic ingredients such as pepper and tatashe.
Adetoun said the prices have become unbearable, pointing out that she paid ₦55,000 for a bag of tatashe and ₦47,000 for a bag of pepper. Initially, she believed the spike was due to the recent Muslim festival, but after visiting the Mile 12 market multiple times, she concluded the situation was far more serious.
She said:
“It is not funny anymore. There is fire on the mountain. Look at it, a bag of Tatashe N55,000, a bag of pepper N47,000. I actually thought it was because of the Muslim festival that things were expensive. I went to Mile 12 market more than thrice during the Muslim festival so that when we are lamenting, they will not say we that are enjoying should keep quiet and the ones that are suffering are not talking. There is fire on our mountain.
President Tinubu! Minister of Agriculture! Minister of Welfare! Politicians! Some people will say this government is about my father and my Uncle… we should keep quiet as if they are bringing tatashe for me from Bourdillon or I am receiving Federal allocation for tatashe.”
She further questioned how families can survive under current conditions, especially with the proposed ₦70,000 minimum wage.
“If minimum wage is N70,000 for a family of four, if they use N55,000 to buy Tatashe, please what is left? And some people are still thinking this government is about ‘you are a family member, you should not talk.’ Tinubu is your father, you should not talk! There is problem! Food is principal and key. Go to the hospital and see treatments for poor nutrition, malnutrition, and all of this is related to food. An average Nigerian child cannot eat food of N1000.”
She ended her outcry by condemning attempts to silence her activism, stating that she, too, is affected by the harsh economic reality.
“And somebody will be calling me on the phone and saying ‘Adetoun don’t talk!’ As if I am not affected. I can imagine what the minorities are going through.”
