A new report released by Connected Development (CODE) on Wednesday revealed a surge in the prices of staple food items since President Bola Tinubu assumed office in May 2023.
The report, which tracked the average cost of essential commodities from May 29, 2023, to May 29, 2025, showed price hikes exceeding 100 per cent for key staples such as yam, rice, maize, garri, and beans.
The document, which is the 2024 Annual Report of the organisation tagged “The Year of Active Citizen,” presented to journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, said the price of yam, a dietary staple, has skyrocketed by 204.5 per cent, jumping from N378 per tuber in May 2023 to N1,151 currently.
The report said local rice, a critical component of Nigerian meals, now sells for N3,328 per derica (cup), up from N1,387 in 2023 — a 139.94 per cent increase. Also, white maize grain has nearly tripled in price, rising by 192.7 per cent from N318 to N930.79 per derica.
Furthermore, garri, a widely consumed cassava product, now costs N4,908 per derica, up 130.54 per cent from N2,129 in 2023.
The most alarming increase, the report said, is seen in white beans, which have surged by 272.84 per cent, from N622 to N2,319 per derica.
The organisation said it sourced its data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
The report further revealed that despite an investment of nearly N894 billion by state governments, Nigeria’s basic education system remains plagued by overcrowded classrooms, untrained teachers, and widespread infrastructural decay.
The analysis, conducted between December 2022 and January 2023, covered 553 schools across 34 states and the FCT, spanning 332 local government areas and 520 communities.
Speaking, the Chief Executive of CODE, Hamzat Lawal, lamented that the reality on the ground does not reflect the enormous sums allocated to the sector.
He noted that although the funds were intended to improve education outcomes, findings from an extensive field assessment show that systemic issues continue to deprive Nigerian children of quality learning.
According to the report, classrooms in the North West, North East, and North Central zones remain grossly overcrowded, in some cases with more than 280 students in a single class, far above the recommended 40.
He said Plateau State recorded one of the worst scenarios, while Enugu State had the lowest class sizes at around 30 students per class.
In addition to overcrowding, gender disparities persist. The North Central region recorded the highest female enrollment (58.9 per cent), while male students dominated in zones like the North East and South East.
The document revealed further that over half the teachers in Zamfara and Sokoto States have never received any form of professional training.
Teacher absenteeism was also widespread, with attendance in several states, including Taraba, Nasarawa, Rivers, Adamawa, and Gombe falling below 90 per cent.
According to the report, the state of hygiene and infrastructure in schools is no better.
Lawal said that more than 30 per cent of community schools in Kebbi and Ekiti still use shared toilets for boys and girls.
“These findings paint a sobering picture: despite billions invested, Nigeria’s education sector continues to face systemic challenges that threaten the well-being and future of millions of children and communities.
“At this juncture, we beckon all stakeholders — government, civil society, and development partners — to urgently prioritise effective budget execution, invest in teacher training, improve infrastructure, and ensure safe, inclusive learning environments for every child. We owe it to Nigeria’s future to turn these investments into real, measurable progress,” he said.
The CODE boss observed gains from advocacy campaigns such as the Girl-Child Education Project in Bauchi, supported by the Malala Fund, and USAID-backed early literacy initiatives in Adamawa, Bauchi, and Sokoto, which have begun addressing gender-based violence and cultural barriers in schools.
