Nigeria: Cost of Preparing Pot of Jollof Rice Up 14.6 Percent in 11 Months - Report

What the report says

AllAfrica, republishing Premium Times, reported that the average cost of cooking a pot of jollof rice in Nigeria rose 14.6% over 11 months, from N25,798 in July 2025 to N29,578 in June 2026. The figures come from SBM Intelligence’s Jollof Index Q2 2026 report, “Rebasing, Redefining, and the Weather’s Toll on the Pot,” which the research firm said was updated with a new July 2025 baseline and re-standardised ingredient measures.

The survey tracked monthly prices for 12 ingredients, including rice, oil, tomatoes, peppers, onions, seasoning and protein, across 13 markets in Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. SBM said the index has climbed from N4,087 in July 2016 to N29,578 in June 2026, while the National Bureau of Statistics put food inflation at 17.52% year-on-year in June. The report linked recent pressure to heavy rains, damaged roads and farms, delayed harvests, higher transport costs and wider supply-chain weaknesses.

Regional differences were sharp. SBM identified Calabar Municipal as the most expensive market at N34,750 and Awka as the cheapest at N22,050, widening the gap between the highest and lowest markets to N14,700. Lagos’s Trade Fair and Balogun markets rose 49.6% from July 2025 to June 2026, while South-south markets such as Calabar Municipal, Bayside Mbakpa and Port Harcourt also posted steep increases. Bauchi was an exception, falling 16.7% after a prior price spike.

The report said households are reacting by buying smaller quantities, replacing fresh produce with dried or processed alternatives, and reducing portions. The findings matter because jollof rice is a familiar household meal, making the index a practical gauge of how food costs are affecting everyday purchasing power.