Popular fashion designer Toyin Lawani is adding her voice to the growing concern over food costs in Nigeria. 

In a recent video, she described market prices as shocking. According to Lawani, a small basket of Irish potatoes now goes for roughly ₦30,000, and just four pieces of plantain cost about ₦2,500. She said even ₦1 million doesn’t stretch far anymore when shopping for food.

“How are people managing to eat? How are they surviving?” she asked, calling the situation tough for many households.

Nigerians have been dealing with high food costs for months. Government data shows that while the pace of food inflation slowed to 16.06% in April 2026, the actual cost of eating well keeps rising. The average cost of a healthy diet was ₦1,541 per person per day in March 2026, with states like Ekiti and Imo seeing the highest rates.

In major markets like Lagos, prices of staples such as pepper, tomatoes, and beans have swung sharply this year. A bag of pepper that sold for ₦32,000 in February was ₦80,000 by March. Traders blame transport costs and seasonal shortages.

Lawani, who runs the fashion brand Tiannah’s Empire, said she shared her experience because the pressure is real for everyday Nigerians. Her message echoes what market traders and consumers have been saying: food is taking up more of the family budget, and incomes aren’t keeping up.