Food prices have been reported to cost the lowest in northern states the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has said.
In a document entitled, Selected Food Price Watch for December 2020, different varieties of rice, eggs and chicken were reported to be the cheapest in Taraba, Adamawa, Borno, Katsina, Zamfara, Kano and Kebbi states, New National Star observed.
Data obtained showed that medium-sized eggs per piece and per dozen were the lowest in Borno State selling at 39 naira for the former and 408 naira for the latter. The state also had the lowest price of imported high-quality rice sold per kilogramme (kg) at 391 naira.
A kilogramme of broken ofada rice was sold in Kano State at the average price 311 naira while agric rice was sold at 247 naira per kg in the same state, the lowest price for the month. Katsina State had the lowest rate in both local and medium-grained rice per kg, the former cost 291 naira and the latter was 303 naira. In Taraba State, chicken feet per kg was sold at 330 naira and frozen chicken aper unit cost 1,399 naira.
Chicken wings in Adamawa State cost lesser than other states selling at 490 naira per kg. The NBS acknowledged a 19.80 per cent cost inflation on imported high-quality rice and 9.12 per cent inflation on the cost of medium-sized eggs. Headline inflation rose to 15.75 per cent in December 2020.