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Hardship: Top 10 Pocket-friendly Nigerian Meals

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In Nigeria, where the cost of living can vary widely, finding nutritious and affordable meals is essential.

Whether you’re cooking at home or opting to purchase ready-made dishes, it’s entirely possible to enjoy a satisfying meal without breaking the bank.

With N750 to N1500, you can purchase a variety of hearty Nigerian meals, from staples like Jollof rice to quick fixes like Indomie noodles with vegetables and a little more to prepare by yourself.

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These meals not only provide the necessary nourishment but are also accessible, ensuring that eating well on a budget is within reach for many.

“Pocket friendly” is an informal term used to describe something affordable or reasonably priced.

It implies that the cost of the item or service won’t put a strain on your budget, making it easy to purchase without financial difficulty.

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The PUNCH in a Thursday chat with a Kwara State-based food entrepreneur, Mrs Lateefat Alli-Oluwafuyi, said that health is wealth and good food translates into good health.

She stressed that one should rather try to feed well and stay healthy than get sick these days with the increase in drug prices and get effective treatment.

“The phrase “health is wealth” underscores the idea that good health is one of the most valuable assets a person can have. The absence of good health can significantly compromise all other aspects of life. A healthy body and mind are the foundation for a fulfilling and productive life.

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When we say good food translates into good health, we’re emphasising the critical role that nutrition plays in maintaining and enhancing our well-being. The food we consume directly affects our body’s functioning, energy levels, and overall health.”

With a cross-sectional survey done across the six zones, here are ten economic-friendly meal ideas in Nigeria that are both nutritious and easy on the pocket:

1. Jollof Rice

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Jollof Rice
Ingredients: Rice, tomatoes, onions, pepper, oil, seasoning cubes.
Why: A staple in many Nigerian homes, Jollof rice is affordable and can be prepared with or without protein, making it adaptable to various budgets.

2. Beans and Plantain

Ingredients: Beans, ripe or unripe plantains, palm oil, onions, seasoning.
Why: Beans are an excellent source of protein and are quite affordable. Paired with plantains, it makes a filling meal.

3. Eba and Egusi Soup

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Ingredients: Garri (for Eba), melon seeds, palm oil, vegetables, milk curds (wara), stockfish, or meat (optional).
Why: Egusi soup is rich and can be made with or without meat, depending on your budget. Eba (made from Garri) is inexpensive and filling.

4. Yam Porridge (Asaro)

Yam porridge | Sisi Jemimah

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Ingredients: Yam, palm oil, pepper, onions, spinach or other leafy greens, seasoning.
Why: Yam porridge is a hearty and economical dish, especially when yams are in season.

5. Okra Soup and Fufu


Fufu with Okra soup
Fufu with Okra soup | African Food Network

Ingredients: Okra, palm oil, crayfish, pepper, seasoning, milk curds (wara), cassava flour (for Fufu).
Why: Okra is affordable and nutritious. Paired with Fufu, it creates a satisfying meal.

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6. Beans and Corn Porridge (Adalu)

Ingredients: Beans, corn, palm oil, onions, seasoning.
Why: Combining beans and corn creates a protein-rich meal that’s both filling and affordable.

7. Noodles with Vegetables

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Ingredients: Instant noodles, carrots, cabbage, onions, bell peppers, eggs (optional).
Why: Noodles are quick and cheap. Adding vegetables increases the nutritional value without significantly increasing cost.

8. Acha (Fonio) Porridge

Ingredients: Acha grains, vegetables, palm oil, onions, seasoning.
Why: Acha is a lesser-known grain but is highly nutritious and can be cooked into a light porridge with minimal ingredients.

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9. Moi Moi


Moi Moi Serious Eats
Moi Moi |Serious Eats
Ingredients: Beans, pepper, onions, oil, seasoning.
Why: Moi Moi is a versatile and protein-rich dish that can be eaten alone or as a side.

10. Fried Yam and Akara
Ingredients: Yam, beans (for Akara), oil, pepper, and onions.
Why: A popular street food combination that is inexpensive and can serve as a breakfast or light dinner.

These meals are not only cost-effective but also easy to prepare, ensuring that you can eat well on a budget.

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Good food plays a crucial role in maintaining and enhancing our well-being. The nutrients we consume through a balanced diet—such as vitamins, minerals, proteins, and healthy fats—support our body’s functioning, energy levels, and overall health.

Proper nutrition not only provides the energy needed for daily activities but also helps prevent chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers.

Additionally, a healthy diet positively impacts mental health, improves mood, and reduces stress.

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By making nutritious food choices, we invest in our health, ensuring a longer, healthier life and the ability to handle life’s challenges with resilience.
PUNCH

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Delta-billionaire Lawuru To Grace Ijaw Media Conference As Guest Of Honour

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The President of Egbema Brotherhood, Alaowei Promise Lawuru, is expected to grace the forthcoming Ijaw Media Conference 2025, as a guest of honour.

The event is scheduled to hold on December 3rd, 2025, in Warri, Delta State.

The annual media conference organised by the Ijaw Publishers Forum with the theme ‘Safeguarding Niger Delta’s Natural Resources for Future Generations,’ is second edition of the series.

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Lawuru, youthful politician and businessman’s willingness to appear as guest of honour was made known
when a delegation of the Central Working Committee led by Pastor Arex Akemotubo paid him a visit to inform him of the forthcoming event and his expected role.

READ ALSO:IPF Holds Annual Ijaw Media Conference December

In his presentation, Akemotubo explained that this year’s theme was chosen out of concern for the growing strain on the region’s land and waters.

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The Publisher of WaffiTV stressed that the forum wants to strengthen public understanding, support honest reportage, and encourage leaders to protect what the Niger Delta holds for the next generation.

He addex that Lawuru’s history of service and steady involvement in community work made him a natural choice for the role.

READ ALSO:IPF Commends Tompolo’s Commitment To Security In Delta, Nigeria

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Chief Lawuru welcomed the invitation and spoke warmly about the need for shared responsibility among stakeholders and groups such as the IPF.

He commended the forum for using the media to defend the region’s interests and promised full support for the conference.

Lawuru further urged other stakeholders across the Ijaw nation to lend their weight to efforts that safeguard the environment.

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Senate Recommends Death Penalty For Kidnappers

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The Senate has passed a resolution classifying kidnapping as an act of terrorism, stipulating that an amendment to the Terrorism Act be made to impose the maximum penalty of death.

The resolution was made during plenary on Wednesday.

Under the new law, according to the upper legislative arm, once a kidnapping conviction is established, the death penalty must be applied.

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Nigeria suffers from a persistent security crisis fuelled by attacks and violence by “bandit” gangs that raid villages, kill people, and kidnap for ransom.

READ ALSO:Senate Uncovers $300bn Unaccounted Crude Oil Sales

In response to recent kidnappings and attacks by terrorists, President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday ordered a total security cordon over the forests in Kwara State.

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Series Of Abductions

Bandits had struck the Isapa community of the Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, abducting 11 residents.

The attack came about two weeks after and 38 worshippers were abducted from a Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) in the Eruku community of the state.

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Terrorists also attacked St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools, Papiri, in Niger State, abducting more that 300 school children and staff in a resurgence of the mass kidnappings that have long harrowed Africa’s most populous country.

READ ALSO:Bill To Establish Federal Oil And Gas Hospital In Delta Scales Second Reading In Senate

In the same week, 24 schoolgirls were taken from the Government Comprehensive Girls Secondary School, Maga, Danko Wasagu Local Government Area in Kebbi State, but regained freedom on Tuesday.

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At least 50 taken from St Mary’s Catholic school also managed to escape, but more than 265 children and teachers are still being held.

Nigeria’s high-profile mass kidnapping was that of the Chibok schoolgirls in 2014, when Boko Haram forced 276 girls from their dormitories in the North-East region.

More than a decade later, man of the Chibok girls are still missing.

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FG Threatens To Seize Dana Air Assets

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The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has disclosed that the Federal Government may recover and sell the assets of Dana Air to refund passengers and travel agents whose funds remain trapped following the suspension of the airline’s operations.

The Minister disclosed this in Abuja on Tuesday at the Ministry’s fourth quarter stakeholders’ engagement to enhance governance for effective service delivery in aviation with the theme: “leveraging public feedback to drive excellence in aviation services”.

According to him, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) will be directed to probe why funds trapped by the airline are yet to be refunded.

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He revealed that the Authority suspended the operations of the airline as a matter of choice between safety and disaster.

READ ALSO:NCAA Petitions IGP Over KWAM 1’s Unruly Conduct In Abuja Airport

“For Dana, the problem is that it was a choice between safety and disaster. So we didn’t take the commercial thing as priority. The priority was safety, and we all looked at the damning reports that we had met on the table.

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“It was a decision of the NCAA to suspend them, but I pushed them to say, look, these are the reports we are seeing on the table about safety record, about lack of standards that put the lives of Nigerians at risk. If they continue flying, I don’t know whether most of us will be here. Many of us would have been victims of one of those flights. God forbid.”

According to him, “I have asked Najomo to dig deep to find out how those passengers and agents will be refunded. He has to dig deep on that.

“One solution will also be that if that same individual or those entities are trying to come back to aviation under any guise, whether to go and register a new AOC or use any business within the aviation sector, they have to go and settle their debts first.

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READ ALSO:NCAA Seeks K1 De Ultimate’s Arrest, Petitions AGF, IG

We should look at their assets. There are assets that are still available. Let them sell their assets. Let’s cannibalize their revenue and pay people. Let’s find a way to go after their assets and get money to pay Nigerians who are owed.

“NCAA should do that because they can’t get away with it.”

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