Nigeria Food Prices Surge for Tomatoes While Staples Decline, Affordability Varies by State

The National Bureau of Statistics' May 2026 Food Price Watch shows fresh produce costs climbing sharply in Nigeria. The average retail price of tomatoes rose 32.48% month‑on‑month to ₦1,560.56 per kilogram and 12.05% year‑on‑year, while ginger increased 7.28% year‑on‑year. By contrast, staple items fell sharply: brown beans dropped 43.61% year‑on‑year, white garri fell 39.39%, and onions declined 26.59% year‑on‑year.

Regional price gaps were pronounced. Lagos recorded the highest tomato price at ₦1,974.81/kg, nearly double the lowest price in Ekiti (₦1,017/kg). The South‑East posted the highest average tomato price of ₦1,838.40/kg, while the North‑West remained the cheapest zone at ₦1,182.39/kg. Similar disparities appeared for beans, garri, and ginger across zones.

An accompanying state‑level analysis ranked Adamawa as the most affordable state overall in May 2026. The report listed the lowest national prices for specific commodities: Nasarawa for onions (₦850/kg), Lagos for semovita (₦1,777.15), Kano for Irish potatoes (₦1,289.70), Bayelsa for crayfish (₦6,608.57), and other states leading on beef, tilapia, yam, rice and groundnuts. While food inflation eased for many staples, price relief was uneven, with northern states generally offering lower costs than southern regions.