Nigeria sees sharp rise in rice and staple food prices

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported that the average price of a 50 kg bag of local rice jumped 20.5 % in March 2026 to ₦112,000, up from ₦92,946 in February. Imported rice also rose 3.06 % to ₦133,975. The same report showed price increases for other staples: a crate of 30 eggs rose 2 %, brown beans to ₦1,325.85 per kilogram, white garri to ₦801.54 per kilogram, onions to ₦1,153.14 per kilogram and ginger to ₦5,541.25 per kilogram. State‑level data revealed the highest egg price in Taraba (₦6,999 per crate) and the lowest in Niger (₦5,610), while Oyo posted the highest bean price (₦1,937.20 per kilogram).

These hikes push the cost of a 50 kg bag of local rice above the national minimum wage of ₦70,000, meaning a minimum‑wage earner cannot afford even one bag in a month. Market surveys, however, noted that some local short‑grain rice was still selling for about ₦60,000, suggesting regional variability. The steep rise in rice and other food items intensifies household food‑inflation pressures across Nigeria.