A National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member posted to Abuja has gone viral after bursting into tears over the high cost of tomatoes in the nation's capital. The young lady, identified as @peshpgold on TikTok, shared her frustration after visiting a local market to buy foodstuffs.
Corps Member Shocked by Tomato Prices
In her emotional video, the corps member revealed that she purchased five pieces of tomatoes for N500, equating to N100 per tomato. She expressed disbelief at the rising cost of food items in Abuja. "Guys, what exactly is happening in Abuja that I don't know? I'm just coming from the market to get foodstuffs to cook. Guys, tomato N500. 5 pieces of tomato for N500. Does it mean that each tomato is N100?" she asked.
She further lamented that the high cost of living is making life difficult for corps members serving in Abuja. "Abuja, you guys are not making life easy for us. You guys are not making life easy for corps members in Abuja. My only mistake was coming to serve in Abuja," she added.
Savings Drained on Food
@peshpgold also disclosed that she has exhausted her savings on food, leaving her with nothing. "I don't even have any savings in my account anymore. All my alawee dey finish for food. I have to eat, of course. I'm tired. I wan go my village," she said, expressing her desire to return to her hometown.
The video quickly gained traction, sparking reactions from Nigerians across the country.
Public Reactions to the Video
- Pwetykhadi questioned the location: "All that tomatoes 500? Abeg which area you dey because no 500 naira tomato for my own area o."
- Joanne Shelika noted: "This isn't tomatoe season, it's currently expensive everywhere."
- QWEEN OF THE EAST shared: "Here in Calabar is 4 pieces sef And it's the smallest ones ooo omoh."
- Silvia said: "The tomato is very cheap oo, honestly here in edo state thats now 1000."
- Abuja_thrift_hairs commented: "In my area that tomatoes is 1k o, abeg where you buy 5h make I come buy too o."
- Edith explained: "Omoh I went to market too and I was shocked a day before yesterday, it's annoying."
- Mara noted: "Your own tomatoes is big sef, if you see the tomatoes I bought today for 500 in port harcourt."
- Osinachispecial Osinachi shared: "4 piece of tomatoes in awka Anambra state , temp site precisely .. is 1000."
- Wholesale Handbags Abuja advised: "I pray God provide for u do bulk buying and keep it will save u on days like this."
- Halfcastgirl said: "I no Dey chop tomatoes or pepper again ooh no 500 tomatoes for my place ooh pepper 200 nah 3 guys na Mtn rice I Dey eat back to back."
- ONLINE BAGS AND PURSES VENDOR consoled: "Sorry, don't cry ? na the country we find ourselves."
- Favorite fashion empire explained: "The 500 tomato no day again I went to the market this evening I asked for 500 naira owe Dey said E no day."
- stylesbysylla noted: "Tomatoes is expensive dear. I got smaller size 5 pieces for N500 also."
Similar Stories of Tomato Price Hikes
In a related incident, a Nigerian woman cried out online after her nanny bought a basket of tomatoes that turned out to be mostly unripe. The seller had covered the top with red tomatoes to deceive buyers. The woman said the tomatoes were purchased at Mile 12 market before the trick was discovered at home.
Another report covered a woman who bought a full basket of tomatoes for N5,000 at Central Market, surprising many online users who discussed tomato prices in their areas.
