Crayfish costs in Lagos have continued their sharp upward climb, with merchants warning {that a} paint bucket of the seafood might promote for between N15,000 and N20,000 by December if present market pressures persist.
Merchants throughout main markets in Ikorodu, Oyingbo, and Surulere say the persistent rise is pushed by a mix of gas value hikes, excessive transportation prices, poor street networks, and seasonal provide shortages, Information Company of Nigeria (NAN) experiences.
The state of affairs, they famous, is squeezing revenue margins and decreasing buyer patronage.
Crayfish, a staple ingredient in lots of Nigerian households, has seen value will increase nearly each week throughout some markets.
At Asolo Market in Ikorodu, dealer Mrs Peace Olufemi stated costs have risen steeply in simply two months.
“The worth of a paint bucket of crayfish rose from N7,000–N8,000 in September to N11,000 in November,” Olufemi stated.
She predicted an extra enhance in the course of the festive and dry seasons, noting that the present scarcity could worsen.
One other dealer, Mrs Josephine Anyanwu, stated the worth of a paint bucket of crayfish elevated from N11,000 to N12,000 inside every week.
“An enormous nylon-sized crayfish could be very expensive, and I can’t afford it. Costs could rise to ₦15,000 a paint in December,” she stated.
On the similar market, Mrs Omolara Ajibola, a significant supplier, stated the worth of a bag of “huge nylon” crayfish is now between N40,000 and N42,000, with a revenue margin of about N10,000 per sale.
“Some days, I promote, and a few days, I don’t. Gross sales have actually diminished,” she added.
Equally, Mrs Nkechi Okafor, one other dealer, stated 10 paint buckets of crayfish bought for N100,000 in August and N130,000 in September, and now it goes for N160,000.
She expressed uncertainty in regards to the market outlook however predicted that costs would stay excessive into the following 12 months.
Mr Okechukwu Miracle, a bulk crayfish provider who sources from Osun State, confirmed the market instability.
He defined that every bag comprises six parts, bought at N120,000 every.
Ija BJ, a crayfish vendor at Oyingbo Market, attributed the event to the low season and the rise in the price of gas.
She stated {that a} huge basket of crayfish containing 34 paints, which they bought at N180,000 in August, now sells between N250,000 and N280,000 relying on the discount.
An engineer at Oyinbo Market, Mr Michael Popoola, highlighted the affect of gas costs on fishing operations.
“Fishing machines eat extra gas than automobiles, which will increase manufacturing prices,” he stated.
He added that the excessive price of transporting items from different states additional drives up market costs.
A retailer, often known as Mummy Blessing, stated that custard paint of crayfish now sells for N11,000 and will attain N20,000 by December based mostly on previous traits.
A client at Lawanson Market, Surulere, Mrs Funke Adesina, defined that each merchants and patrons ought to already be conversant in the standard value patterns of crayfish.
In keeping with her, understanding the proper time to purchase as a dealer and when to refill as a client is important.
“Crayfish is one seafood I can’t cook dinner with out, so I ensure to purchase in bulk earlier than the worth rises,” she stated.
She added {that a} dealer she patronises lately talked about that travelling has change into dangerous.
“Many merchants at the moment are afraid to exit and restock as a result of the roads are unsafe,” she stated.
Newly launched knowledge from the Nationwide Bureau of Statistics (NBS) for October 2025 exhibits that Nigeria’s headline inflation eased to 16.05% in October 2025, down from 18.02% in September.
Nevertheless, meals inflation eased to 13.12% year-on-year from 39.16% in October 2024, a drop of 26.04 share factors, following the change within the CPI base 12 months.
Nevertheless, meals inflation eased to 13.12% year-on-year from 39.16% in October 2024, a drop of 26.04 share factors, following the change within the CPI base 12 months.
