Nigeria’s food market showed a mixed pattern in March 2026, with several staple items becoming cheaper compared with a year earlier, even as prices rose again on a month-to-month basis, according to the National Bureau of Statistics’ Selected Food Price Watch. The report suggests that while annual food inflation has eased for some basic items, short-term supply pressures and distribution costs are still pushing prices upward.
The NBS said the average price of a crate of eggs fell 20.12% year-on-year to N6,127.62 in March 2026 from N7,670.56 a year earlier, but still rose 2.00% from February. The average price of brown beans (1kg) dropped 49.32% year-on-year to N1,325.85, while increasing 1.41% month-on-month. White garri (1kg) declined 41.19% year-on-year to N801.54, but edged up 1.38% from February. Onion bulb (1kg) fell 19.63% year-on-year to N1,153.14, while fresh ginger (1kg) moved in the opposite direction, rising 20.46% year-on-year to N5,541.25 and 0.61% month-on-month.
The data come against a backdrop of renewed inflation pressure in the wider economy. Reuters reported that Nigeria’s headline inflation rose to 15.38% in March 2026 from 15.06% in February, the first uptick in a year, with higher food and transport costs contributing to the increase. Reacting to the NBS figures, Nigeria Agribusiness Group president Kabir Ibrahim said restoring guaranteed minimum prices would help stabilise markets and encourage farmers to expand production. He warned that without stronger policy support, the pattern of yearly relief combined with monthly increases could persist, leaving the food system vulnerable to repeated shocks.
