Sallah: Mokwa bridge collapse triggers soaring prices of tomatoes, peppers

Less than two days to the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations, the prices of tomatoes, peppers, onions, and other perishable goods have surged sharply following the collapse of the Mokwa Bridge in Niger State, a key transit route for food supply.

The bridge, which connects the North to southern parts of the country, caved in last Thursday after heavy floods ravaged parts of Niger State, reportedly killing over 200 people and leaving hundreds missing. The incident has caused major disruptions to the movement of foodstuff and livestock from the North, fuelling concerns over shortages and soaring market prices.

Traders and market sources attribute the sudden spike in prices to the twin pressures of the collapsed bridge and the heightened demand brought on by the approaching Sallah festivities, which begin on Saturday.

Alhaji Isa Aliyu, National President of the Onion Producers, Processors, and Marketers Association of Nigeria, confirmed that multiple trucks transporting onions to the South-West have been stranded for days in Mokwa town.

Similarly, the Chairman of the Tomatoes Traders Association in Kebbi State, Alhaji Umarun Basiru, disclosed that at least 15 trucks loaded with tomatoes and peppers, estimated to be worth over ₦250 million, are trapped at the failed bridge.

“This unfortunate development has added salt to injury. The prices of tomatoes and other perishables were already high due to inflation and logistical issues, but now the situation has worsened significantly,” Basiru lamented.

Dealers in perishable food items fear massive financial losses, as the stranded goods risk spoilage under the harsh transit conditions. Many of them expressed frustration over the slow government response and the absence of immediate alternatives for moving goods southwards.

With the Sallah celebration approaching, consumers are feeling the impact at the retail level, where prices of tomatoes, pepper, and onions have more than doubled in some markets across the South-West.

Stakeholders have called on the federal and state governments to expedite repair works on the bridge and explore alternative routes to ease the burden on traders and consumers alike.