Eid In Peril: Collapsed Mokwa Bridge Triggers Sh*cking Hike In Tomato, Pepper Prices [New Rates Inside]

With less than 48 hours to the Eid-el-Kabir celebration, the prices of key perishable food items—such as tomatoes, peppers, and onions—have surged dramatically across Nigerian markets. This spike follows the devastating collapse of the Mokwa Bridge in Niger State, a vital route for transporting food from the North to the South.

The bridge was swept away by a deadly flood last Thursday, which also claimed over 200 lives, displaced more than 3,000 people, and destroyed critical infrastructure, including three major bridges.

According to Alhaji Umarun Basiru, Chairman of the Tomatoes Traders Association in Kebbi, at least 15 trucks loaded with tomatoes and peppers—worth an estimated ₦250 million—are currently stranded in Mokwa.

“This disaster has made a bad situation even worse,” Basiru said in a statement to The PUNCH.

The National Onion Producers, Processors and Marketers Association also confirmed the disruption, noting that trucks heading to the South-West have been caught in the chaos.

From Sokoto to Gombe, traders are increasingly worried about rotting goods and mounting financial losses as these perishables have a short shelf life.

Soaring Demand Ahead of Eid Fuels Crisis

The demand for perishables has sharply increased due to the upcoming Eid celebrations, compounding the supply crisis.

“People are preparing to cook for Sallah. We’re talking about perishables worth millions that may spoil before they even arrive,” said Garba Yusuf, a tomato farmer in Gombe.

In Bauchi, a tomato dealer, Aminu Aliyu, warned that the scarcity is driving food inflation. “Whenever food is stranded in transit, prices shoot up,” he explained.

New Market Prices: A Shocking Spike

Across the country, prices have nearly doubled in some locations:

• Lafia, Nasarawa State: Tomato basket now ₦20,000–₦25,000 (up from ₦15,000)

• Ilorin: ₦50,000–₦70,000 per basket (previously ₦40,000)

• Lagos (Mile 12 Market): Small baskets up from ₦7,000 to ₦14,000; large ones now ₦35,000–₦40,000

• Damaturu: Tomato basket ₦55,000; pepper ₦22,000

• Akwa Ibom: Onion prices surged from ₦60,000 to ₦75,000

• Osogbo: Northern supply shortage pushes local alternatives into the market

• Benin: Vegetable bunches now ₦1,000, up from ₦400

• Bayelsa: Mild increases attributed more to Sallah than the bridge issue

• Delta State: Tomato basket now over ₦50,000, compared to ₦35,000 last week

Farmers, Drivers, and Traders Call for Help

Traders and transporters across affected regions are crying out for urgent government intervention.

Bulus Andrawus, Deputy Chairman of the Plateau Truck Owners Association, revealed that even livestock in transit are dying due to the delay.

In Kaduna, Alhaji Ahmed Suleiman, Chairman of the Tomato Sellers Association, lamented: “Each truck carries tomatoes worth hundreds of thousands. If they spoil, we’re ruined.”

At Mandate Market in Kwara, trader Iya Aisha Alata said prices remain unstable due to the sudden switch from northern imports to local supply.

Meanwhile, in Lafia, Ibrahim Muhammad urged the Federal Government to partner with Niger State for immediate repairs. “People are struggling to eat three square meals. Prices are out of control,” he said.

Chairman of the Truck Drivers Association, Musa Mohammed, added: “We’re bleeding money daily. If this continues, the entire food supply chain will be disrupted.”