Crayfish prices in Lagos continue to rise sharply, and traders are warning that a paint-bucket measure of the seafood could sell for between N15000 and N20000 by December if current pressures persist. Across major markets in Ikorodu, Oyingbo and Surulere, traders say the surge is driven by fuel price hikes, rising transportation costs, poor road conditions and seasonal supply shortages, according to reports from the News Agency of Nigeria. Many traders say these pressures are squeezing margins and discouraging buyers, a trend that is already affecting small food businesses, home caterers and processors who rely heavily on crayfish for daily production.
Crayfish remains a staple in thousands of Nigerian households, yet prices have increased almost every week in some markets. At Asolo Market in Ikorodu, a trader explained that the price of a paint bucket of crayfish moved from N7000 to N8000 in September and now sells for N11000 in November. She expects another round of increases during the festive and dry seasons because shortages are already visible. Another trader in the same market said the product rose from N11000 to N12000 within one week, adding that the big nylon size has become too expensive for many sellers to restock. She believes December could push prices to N15000 per paint bucket.
A major dealer at Asolo Market said a bag of the big nylon crayfish now sells between N40000 and N42000, leaving her with about N10000 profit per sale. She noted that some days move quickly, while other days bring no sales at all. Another trader explained that ten paint buckets of crayfish sold for N100000 in August, N130000 in September, and now cost N160000. She expressed uncertainty about the outlook, but she expects high prices to continue into the coming year.
A bulk supplier who sources from Osun State confirmed the instability, explaining that each bag contains six portions, sold at N120000 each. At Oyingbo Market, another seller linked the rising price to the off-season and the cost of fuel, noting that a big basket containing thirty-four paints rose from N180000 in August to between N250000 and N280000 depending on the negotiation.
A market engineer at Oyingbo emphasised the role of fuel prices in the fishing business, explaining that fishing machines consume more fuel than vehicles, which pushes production costs upward. He added that transporting goods from one state to another has become more expensive, a development that eventually shows up in retail prices.
Retailers say consumers should brace for further increases. One seller explained that a custard-paint measure now sells for N11000 and could reach N20000 by December, based on the usual seasonal pattern. A consumer at Lawanson Market in Surulere said traders and buyers should already understand how crayfish prices rise at certain periods of the year. She said she buys in bulk before the spikes because crayfish is one ingredient she cannot cook without. She added that a trader she frequently patronizes recently complained about the risks of travelling to restock, noting that insecurity on major roads has discouraged many suppliers.
New data from the National Bureau of Statistics for October 2025 shows that headline inflation eased to 16.05 percent, down from 18.02 percent in September. Month-on-month inflation rose to 0.93 percent from 0.72 percent in September. Food inflation eased to 13.12 percent year-on-year from 39.16 percent in October 2024, largely due to the change in the Consumer Price Index base year, but traders argue that the reality in the markets still reflects persistent pressures on essential food items.
This continuous rise in crayfish prices is affecting households and also stretching the operating costs of small restaurants, caterers, market women and informal food processors whose production depends heavily on affordable dried seafood. Many fear that the festive season could worsen the situation unless logistics improve and supply pressures ease.
