The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in its Food Price Watch report released yesterday, indicated a continuous increase in food prices in August, detailing how the prices of beef, tomatoes, beans, garri, yam and other food items increased for the month.
The report stated that while the average price of 1kg of boneless beef was N2,141.18 in August 2022, it increased by 30.75 per cent to N2,799.51 in August 2023.
It added that the average price of 1kg of local rice increased by 62.68 per cent on a year-on-year basis, from N454.10 in August 2022 to N738.74 in August 2023.
On a month-on-month basis, 1kg of local rice increased by 13.04 per cent from the N653.49 recorded in July 2023.
It stated that the average price of 1kg of brown beans increased by 27 per cent on a year-on-year basis from N545.61 in August 2022 to N692.95 in August 2023.
The report added that the average price of 1kg of yam tuber increased by 42.80 per cent on a year-on-year basis from N403.65 in August 2022 to N576.39 in August 2023.
Average price of garri increased by 49.16 per cent on a year-on-year-basis, from N305.92 in August 2022 to N456.32 in August 2023, the NBS stated. On a month-on-month basis, the price increased by 6.15 per cent from the N429.89 recorded in July to N456.32 recorded in August 2023.
On state profile analysis, the report showed that the highest average price of 1kg of boneless beef was recorded in Anambra at N3,790.02, while the lowest price was recorded in Kogi at N1,835.71.
It stated that Ondo recorded the highest average price of 1kg of local rice at N903.26, while the lowest was recorded in Benue at N529.72.
The NBS stated that the highest average price of 1kg of brown beans was recorded in Imo at N1,087.14, while the lowest price was recorded in Kogi at N480.34.
The report stated that Akwa Ibom recorded the highest average price of 1kg of yam tuber at N1,030.71, while Adamawa recorded the lowest price at N328.71.
The Managing Director of Bullion Go-Neat Global Limited, Olufemi Ajadi, has urged the Federal Government to check inflation in the country as a way of making life more meaningful for the masses. Ajadi gave the advice in a statement while delivering an Independence Day anniversary appeal to the Federal Government.
He observed that inflationary pressures in the economy, coupled with high cost of foreign exchange, multiple taxation and poor infrastructure were contributing to the high cost of living and also making it difficult for entrepreneurship to thrive in the country.
He said there would be no better way of marking independence than for the government to respond to the aforementioned challenges.
“As our country celebrates 63 years of independence, I therefore reiterate our call for the government to put things in place and help our economy to grow.
“It is an important season for the nation, unfortunately, rather than celebrate this anniversary of nationhood, Nigerians across states and zones are left to groan and complain. And do you blame them, when the economy has been biting harshly and insecurity worse?”
Ajadi said the masses could not afford to be celebrating the anniversary when there is no food in their stomachs, no money in their pockets and worse, left to battle banditry, armed robbery and other kinds of insecurity.
MEANWHILE, road traffic crashes data released by the NBS showed that the North-Central region of the country recorded the highest number of crashes, casualties in nine months ending in Q1, 2023. Specifically, the NBS data were for Q3, Q4 2022 and Q1, 2023.
According to the NBS, the road traffic crashes for the fourth quarter of 2022 saw an increase of 6.01 per cent with 3,617 from the previous quarter, which recorded 3,412 and a 6.16 per cent rise from 3,407 in Q4 2021.
Of all crashes, serious cases stood top in Q4 2022 with 2,411 compared to fatal and minor cases with 895 and 311 respectively. In addition, fatal and serious cases were higher in Q4 relative to the preceding quarter by 24.31 per cent and 3.17 per cent respectively, while minor cases declined by 12.39 per cent.
Of all the crashes recorded in Q4, Q3, 2022, and Q1 2023, North Central has the highest number of crashes and casualties documented.
Also, in NBS Transport Fare Watch for August 2023, the average fare paid by commuters for bus journeys within the city per drop increased by 0.01 per cent from N1, 336.29 in July to N1, 336.38 in August 2023.
On a year-on-year basis, it rose by 121.81 per cent from N602.48 in August 2022. In another category, the aver-age fare paid by commuters for bus journey intercity per drop decline to N5, 918.18 in August 2023, indicating a decrease of 0.02 per cent on a month-on-month basis compared to N5, 919.49
Also in its road transport data for Q3, the total number of road traffic crashes in Q3 2022 was 3,412, showing an increase of 3.96 per cent from the previous quarter, which recorded 3,282 and an 8.87 per cent rise from 3,134 recorded in Q3 2021.
Of all crashes, in the third quarter, serious cases stood top in Q3 2022 with 2,337 compared to fatal and minor cases with 720 and 355 respectively. In addition, serious and minor cases were higher in the quarter under review relative to the preceding quarter by 11.02 per cent and 0.28 per cent respectively, while fatal cases declined by 12.52 per cent.
Interestingly, the road transport data for first quarter of 2023, recorded a decrease with the total number of road traffic crashes declining to 2,733, indicating a decrease of 24.44 per cent from the previous quarter which recorded 3,617 and an 18.30 per cent fall from 3,345 in Q1 2022.
Of all crashes, serious cases stood top in Q1 2023 with 1,801 compared to fatal and minor cases with 677 and 255 respectively. In addition, the three categories of cases recorded a decline in the quarter under review relative to the preceding quarter.
On Transport Fare Watch for August 2023, on a year-on-year basis, the fare rose by 56.57 per cent from N3, 779.96 in August 2022. In air travel, the average fare paid by air passengers for specified routes single journey increased by 0.30 per cent from N78, 775.74 in July 2023 to N79, 011.38 in August 2023. On a year-on-year basis, the fare rose by 21.48 per cent from N65, 041.89 in August 2022.
The average transport fare paid on Okada transportation was N646.12 in August 2023, which was the same rate recorded in July 2023 (N646.12). On a year-on-year basis, the fare rose by 46.91 per cent when compared with August 2022 (N439.80).
On state profile analysis, for intercity bus travel (state route charged per person fare), the highest fare was recorded in Abuja with N8, 525.36, followed by Anambra with N8, 050.97. The least fare was recorded in Kwara with N3, 520.00, followed by Zamfara with N3, 750.07. Bauchi state and Jigawa state still recorded the highest bus journey within the city (per drop constant route) in August 2023 with N1, 700.08 and N1, 620.00. On the other hand, Adamawa state recorded the least with N850.02, followed by Osun with N1, 100.08.
The NBS report revealed that for road traffic crashes in Q4, 2022, a total of 1,309 males were killed, accounting for 81.41 per cent out of 1,608 persons killed, relative to 299 (18.59 per cent) females killed.
Also, a total of 7,789 males were injured during the period, indicating 76.12 per cent out of 10,232 injured per-sons compared to 2,443 (23.88 per cent) females injured.
Besides, the North-Central recorded the highest number of crashes in Q4 2022 with 1,247, followed by the South-West with 862, while the South-South had the least with 207.
In road traffic crashes for Q1 2023, a total of 1,185 males were killed in Q1 2023, accounting for 82.23 per cent of 1,441 persons killed, compared to 256 (17.77 per cent) females killed. Also, a total of 6,386 males were injured during the period, indicating 76.58 per cent of 8,339 injured persons compared to 1,953 (23.42 per cent) females injured.
A total of 4,095 vehicles were involved in road traffic crashes in Q1 2023, lower compared to the previous quarter, which recorded 5,407, indicating a decrease of 24.26 per cent. The North-Central recorded the highest number of crashes in Q1 2023 with 973, followed by the South-West with 678, while the South-South had the least with 122.
