Nollywood actress and filmmaker Ruth Kadiri has voiced strong concerns over the skyrocketing cost of food items in Nigeria. In a video shared on her social media platforms, the filmmaker described the continuous surge in the prices of staple foods—particularly tomatoes—as deeply disturbing.
Kadiri questioned how average citizens are coping with the economic hardship, noting that if she, as a successful filmmaker, is feeling the impact, the situation must be far worse for the common man.
Ruth Kadiri's Emotional Outcry
She said: 'I am not one that is known for complaining but these past couple of days has been so troubling for me because if somebody like me can start to feel the brunt of the heaviness of being a human being, I wonder what other people are going through. The cost of tomato is now so high. Somebody will use N5000 to buy tomato and pepper… Like N5000… while somebody else is probably earning N25,000 or N50,000. You are now using N5000 to buy tomato and pepper.'
'Basket of tomato (price)? … we don't even want to say that… The cost of feeding which is basic in Nigeria is now so high. I don't know if they want us to turn against ourselves because people that are not sensitive will start looking at ourselves as the enemies.'
'What poverty does to people's minds is like what cancer does to the mind, to the brain.'
Public Reaction
The video has sparked widespread reactions online, with many Nigerians sharing their own experiences of rising food prices. The actress's comments highlight the broader economic challenges facing the country, where inflation has eroded purchasing power and made basic necessities increasingly unaffordable for many households.
