Workers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are increasingly patronising Mama Put restaurants as rising food prices make meals at conventional eateries less affordable.
Some workers and residents in parts of Abuja said they patronised local food vendors, especially during lunch breaks.
According to them, Mama Put is more affordable than conventional restaurants, adding that they can get basic meals such as rice, beans, amala, eba, starch, yam, and assorted soup cheaper from the open-air vendors.
They said amid the increasing cost of living, the informal roadside restaurants, which serve locally prepared meals at relatively affordable prices, have become an alternative for workers seeking quick meals.
Speaking on Monday, November 9, 2026, a civil servant in the Central Business District, Umar Musa, said eating at a nearby local restaurant helped him save time and transportation costs.
“Coming to this place is much easier for me. There is no transportation cost because it is close to my workplace, and it helps me eat quickly and return to work,” Musa told NAN.
Another civil servant, Halima Abubakar, said convenience and affordability were among the reasons she occasionally ate at local restaurants.
Abubakar, however, noted that preparing meals at home remained a cheaper option.
“Sometimes, I eat at restaurants because it saves me the stress of cooking, but I do so occasionally because eating at home is more affordable,” she said.
For some customers, the taste, quality and quantity of meals were equally important considerations.
Jumai Ajuma, a customer at Area 10, said the restaurant offered meals within her budget, adding that some conventional eateries charged more without necessarily providing better food.
“Sometimes, I spend more at conventional eateries and still do not get the good taste, quantity and quality,” she said.
Also speaking, Hamza Abdullahi, a taxi driver in Gwarimpa, said patronising local restaurants had become part of his routine, particularly on working days.
Abdullahi said: “The nature of my job will not allow me to drive home to eat and then drive out to continue working.
“Instead, I come here to my favourite restaurant, where I can eat affordable starch and banga soup.”
A member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), David Emmanuel, said local food outlets helped him manage his daily expenses amid the rising cost of transportation and other necessities.
Emmanuel said: “As a corps member, I have to plan my money properly, especially with the high cost of transportation and other things.
“Eating at Mama Put restaurant helps me to save money because I can get a good meal without spending too much.”
LG funds: Offices shut as workers begin strike in Osun
At the Central Business District, a food vendor, Miracle Uche, who operates Mama Destiny Restaurant, said public workers constituted a significant proportion of her customers.
Uche said business was progressing in spite of the rising cost of food items, adding that government intervention was needed to address the economic challenges.
Uche stated: “Business is progressing, but the government should intervene in the economy so that prices of items in the market can reduce and become affordable.
“Because of the large number of customers and patronage, I have four female employees working with me.”
Similarly, a food vendor at Area 10, Esther Chinedu, said workers continued to patronise her restaurant because of the affordability and quantity of meals served.
She said: “The cost of food items is high, but we try our best to make the food affordable because most of our customers are workers who have limited time and money during working hours.
“Many customers also come because they know they can get a good portion of food without spending too much.”
Mama Put restaurants remain an important part of Nigeria’s informal food economy, providing affordable meals for people.
They serve as a vital routine for everyday workers, artisans, and travelers, built on daily repeat-customers and traditional cooking methods like firewood.
The businesses also provide livelihoods for food vendors, cooks, servers, and other workers involved in food preparation and sales.
However, maintaining proper hygiene and sanitary conditions in food preparation, storage and serving remains essential to ensuring that affordable meals are also safe for consumption.
- FG plans $1.5bn savings via local milk production - November 9, 2026
- Food price hike: FCT workers turn to local restaurants for affordable meals - November 9, 2026
- Over 22,000 injured as road crashes claim 3,445 lives in 9 months nationwide ― FRSC - November 9, 2026
