NBS Documents Broad Food Price Surge In March 2026

Nigeria’s food price situation took another difficult turn in March 2026, with official government data showing sharp increases in the cost of staple food items, even as independent market checks suggest a significant gap between bureau figures and what consumers are actually paying.

The National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, in its Selected Food Price Watch report for March 2026, disclosed that the average price of a 50kg bag of local rice with short grains rose by 20.5 percent to N112,000, up from N92,946 recorded in February 2026. Foreign rice fared no better, climbing by 3.06 percent to N133,975 in March from N110,589 in the previous month.

However, independent market findings by Vanguard newspaper revealed a contrasting reality on the ground, with the same 50kg local rice short grain averaging N60,000 across retail markets, raising questions about the methodology and data capture processes used by the NBS in arriving at its figures.

The divergence between official pricing data and street level market prices has long been a source of concern among food security analysts and consumer advocates in Nigeria.

Beyond rice, the NBS report painted a broader picture of rising food costs across multiple staple categories. The average price of a crate of 30 eggs increased by 2.0 percent compared to February 2026. Brown beans rose by 1.41 percent to N1,325.85 per kilogram in March, up from N1,307.44 in February.

White garri sold loose grew by 1.38 percent to N801.54 per kilogram, while onion bulb climbed by 1.59 percent to N1,153.14 per kilogram over the same period. Fresh ginger was priced at N5,541.25 per kilogram, reflecting a month on month increase of 0.61 percent.

The bureau also broke down regional price variations across states. For eggs, Taraba State recorded the highest average price at N6,999 per crate of 30 pieces, while Niger State had the lowest at N5,610.04. In the brown beans category, Oyo State led with the highest average price of N1,937.20 per kilogram, whereas Taraba State recorded the lowest at N745.

For white garri, Abia State posted the highest average price at N1,075.45 per kilogram against Plateau State’s lowest of N513.78. Abia State also topped the onion bulb rankings at N2,115.67 per kilogram, with Kwara State recording the lowest at N829.90.

The data underscores the continued pressure on household food budgets across the country, with everyday staples becoming increasingly expensive for millions of Nigerians already contending with high inflation and reduced purchasing power.