Inflation, Food Affordability and Consumer Adaptation in Nigeria: Evidence from the Akara and Kuli Kuli Social Media Debate

Nigeria's persistent inflation has made food affordability and purchasing power prominent concerns in public discourse. This study examines social media discourse surrounding the Akara and Kuli Kuli debate in Nigeria, focusing on how users framed food affordability, purchasing power, household coping and wider economic hardship. using quantitative content analysis complemented by qualitative interpretation, the study analysed 1,200 publicly accessible posts from X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Threads. Findings show that rising food prices and food affordability dominated the discourse, alongside purchasing pov,'er decline, perceived household coping and consumer adaptation. The study shows how social media provides insight into public interpretations of inflation without directly measuring household behaviour.