The top 15 food items faced price hikes worth more than ₦2,000 in 19 months since May 2023

Key takeaways: 

  • The boneless beef price recorded the largest increase of more than ₦3,620 on average, followed closely by dried catfish (+₦3,619.35) and frozen chicken (+₦3,583.82).
  • Prices of major animal proteins have more than doubled, with price increases ranging from ₦1,900 to ₦3,630 on average.
  • The top 20 food items saw price hikes of at least ₦1,900.
  • The cost of a medium-sized crate of eggs more than tripled between May 2023 and December 2024.

In just over a year, from May 2023 to December 2024, food prices for a broad range of items have risen significantly, with some essentials more than doubling in price. This increase outlines the growing financial strain on household expenditure.

 

Boneless beef experienced the largest absolute price hike on average, rising by ₦3,630 to nearly ₦6,150. This was closely followed by dried catfish, which grew by an average of ₦3,619, and frozen chicken, which also increased by an average of ₦3,584.

 

The data reveals a concerning trend of rising food costs, with essential proteins, cooking ingredients, and staple foods all becoming costlier, thus making basic nutrition harder to afford.

Source:

National Bureau of Statistics

Period:

May 2023 - December 2024
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Every food item tracked has at least doubled in price since May 2023
  • Every comparable food item tracked is now at least twice as expensive as it was in May 2023.
  • Nearly half of the selected food items have more than tripled in price since the month before fuel subsidy removal.
  • Unripe plantain recorded the steepest increase, rising by 469% between May 2023 and April 2026.
  • Ripe plantain, yam tuber, and fresh tilapia also saw extreme increases of more than 300%.
  • Even the slowest-rising staples, including frozen chicken, beans, gari, and maize, still more than doubled in price.

Healthy diet costs rose fastest in Nigeria’s North-West over two years
  • Healthy diet costs rose 49% nationally in two years.
  • North-West states recorded the fastest increases.
  • All seven North-West states rose above the national average.
  • Katsina and Kogi recorded the steepest increases, at 98%.
  • Akwa Ibom had the lowest increase, at 5%.

One adult’s monthly healthy diet takes two-thirds of minimum wage
  • One adult’s healthy diet takes 66% of Nigeria’s minimum wage.
  • The national average monthly cost is about ₦46,230 per adult.
  • Ekiti has the highest burden, at 90% of minimum wage.
  • Six states require over 80% of minimum wage for one adult’s healthy diet.
  • Adamawa has the lowest burden, at 43%.

Osun (₦1,867), the state with the highest CoHD is ₦640 more expensive than the lowest CoHD state, Kaduna (₦1,227)
  • Osun (₦1,867) has the highest CoHD, while Kaduna (₦1,227) has the lowest, a gap of ₦640.
  • The national average CoHD stood at ₦1,495 as of December 2024.
  • Southern states, particularly in the South West, record the highest diet costs.
  • Northern states dominate the list of the most affordable places to eat healthy.
  • Rising costs in urban centres like Lagos (₦1,702) and Rivers (₦1,780) reflect the impact of logistics and inflation.
  • The ₦640 state gap shows inequality in dietary access, which can deepen nutrition and welfare disparities.

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