Latest data shows consumers paid more for several staple food items in April despite year-on-year declines in the prices of beans, garri, onions and tomatoes……
Nigerians continued to grapple with rising food costs in April as the prices of several staple commodities recorded fresh increases, according to the latest Selected Food Prices Watch report released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
The report revealed that tomatoes, beans, garri, onions, ginger and palm oil all posted month-on-month price increases, highlighting the persistent pressure on household spending despite signs of moderation when compared to the same period last year.
Tomatoes recorded the sharpest monthly increase among the selected food items tracked by the bureau. The average price of one kilogram rose by 6.6 per cent, climbing from N1,104.85 in March to N1,177.92 in April.
Despite the monthly increase, tomato prices remained lower than they were a year ago, declining by 8.23 per cent compared to N1,283.57 recorded in April 2025.
The report also showed that the average price of one kilogram of brown beans increased slightly by 0.99 per cent to N1,338.93 from N1,325.85 recorded in the previous month.
However, beans recorded one of the most significant annual declines among the selected commodities, falling by 44.89 per cent from N2,429.39 in April last year.
Similarly, the average cost of one kilogram of white garri rose by 0.93 per cent month-on-month to N808.96, up from N801.54 in March.
On an annual basis, garri prices dropped sharply by 39.86 per cent from N1,345.10 recorded in April 2025.
Onions also became more expensive during the month, with the average price increasing by 0.98 per cent from N1,153.14 to N1,164.39.
Compared to the same period last year, however, onion prices were down by 22.56 per cent.
Fresh ginger maintained its position as one of the costliest food items in the basket. The average price increased by 0.73 per cent month-on-month to N5,581.82.
Unlike most of the other commodities surveyed, ginger recorded a year-on-year increase, rising by 12.3 per cent from N4,970.66 in April 2025.
Palm oil prices also edged higher, with the average cost of one litre increasing marginally to N2,396.32 from N2,393.38 recorded in March.
The commodity also posted an annual increase of 4.77 per cent, reflecting continued price pressure in the edible oil market.
State-by-State Breakdown
The NBS report highlighted significant differences in food prices across states.
Bayelsa recorded the highest average price of tomatoes at N1,600.73 per kilogram, while Plateau posted the lowest at N730.48.
For brown beans, Oyo recorded the highest average price at N1,938.91 per kilogram, while Taraba residents paid the lowest average price of N750.
Abia emerged as the state with the highest average price of white garri at N1,075.47 per kilogram, while Plateau recorded the lowest price at N517.94.
The report also showed that Abia had the highest average price for onions at over N2,100 per kilogram, while Kwara and Nasarawa recorded some of the lowest prices nationwide.
In the palm oil category, Ekiti recorded the highest average price per bottle at N2,819.09, while Abia posted the lowest average price at N2,024.41.
Regional Trends
Across the six geopolitical zones, the South-South recorded the highest average price of tomatoes at N1,561.10 per kilogram, followed by the South-East at N1,379.57.
The North-West remained the most affordable region for tomatoes, with an average price of N822.72.
For brown beans, the South-West and South-South recorded the highest average prices, while the North-East posted the lowest.
The South-East emerged as the most expensive region for white garri, followed closely by the South-South, while the North-Central recorded the lowest average price.
The report further showed that the South-East and South-South remained among the most expensive regions for onions, whereas the North-Central recorded the lowest regional average.
Fresh ginger was most expensive in the South-West, where the average price reached N6,812.92 per kilogram. The North-East recorded the lowest average price for the commodity.
The latest figures underscore the mixed reality facing Nigerian consumers. While annual prices for several food staples have moderated significantly from the highs recorded in 2025, monthly increases across key commodities suggest that households are still contending with rising food costs and uneven price movements across the country.
