Jos, Nigeria - Recent

The sharp rise in bean prices in Nigeria has transformed this staple food from a household essential to a luxury, severely impacting people's daily life and exacerbating food insecurity in the country.

Beans, a vital source of protein for many Nigerian families, have seen prices surging dramatically. In Jos, the capital and the largest city of the country, residents are increasingly concerned about their ability to afford this basic food item.

For local residents, the soaring prices of beans have made their daily lives increasingly restrictive.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics, the price of beans reached 1.5 U.S. dollars per kilogram in July, marking a staggering 250 percent increase compared to last year. Grocery store owners attribute this rise to various factors, including the government's recent removal of fuel subsidies, which significantly raised transportation costs.

As one of Africa's largest bean producers, Nigeria faces challenges in maintaining supply levels. The government is actively seeking ways to boost domestic production and revamp local refineries to lower transportation costs.

Efforts to stabilize bean prices remain critical for the livelihoods of many Nigerians, as the country grapples with a broader food crisis.

Shotlist:
Jos, Nigeria - Recent:
1. Various of people selecting beans, making telephone call;
2. SOUNDBITE (Hausa, dubbed with English) Musbau Hamisu, consumer (ending with shots 3-4):
"The surge also affects other food prices, but it's worse with beans. I'm not sure the government has an idea about how many people go to bed hungry many times.";
3. Customers selecting beans;
4. Bunch of sacks of fram products;
5. Customers, stallholders;
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Christiana Chollom, comsumer (ending with shot 7):
"We can even mix it with rice, sweet potato and other things, but now you can't do that because of the alarming price.";
7. Consumers talking with stallholders;
8. Various of food merchant Abdulhameed Adam working;
9. Beans;
10. Various of Adam dealing with customer;
11. Farmer working;
12. SOUNDBITE (Hausa, dubbed with English) Abdulhameed Adam, food merchant (starting with shot 11/ending with shots 13-15):
"A lot of bean farmers have fled their fields for safety. We now get supplies basically from farms around urban settlements, and it's limited. Transporters have also increased fare prices, and they can't be blamed because the price at the pump has also increased.";
13. Workers sieving beans;
14. Various of plants;
15. Various of farmers working;
16. Cars moving;
17. Exterior of factory.

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