Nigeria’s food market recorded marginal relief in October 2025 as prices of key staples such as beans, garri, tomatoes, and rice declined slightly, fresh data from the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, indicate.
In its Selected Food Prices Watch report released Friday in Abuja, the bureau noted that the average cost of 1kg of brown beans dropped by 37.09% year-on-year—from N2,798.50 in October 2024 to N1,760.53 in October 2025. On a month-to-month basis, the staple eased by 1.74% from the N1,815.76 recorded in September.
White garri also saw a significant drop. Its average price fell by 29.33% year-on-year from N1,198.05 in October 2024 to N846.69 in October 2025. Month-on-month, the price declined by 2.88% from N871.78 in September.
Tomato prices softened as well. The report shows that 1kg of tomatoes declined by 13.43% year-on-year—from N1,465.99 to N1,269.17—while easing by 0.83% between September and October 2025.
Local rice, though experiencing only a mild drop, also trended downward. The price of 1kg slipped by 2.01% on a year-on-year basis to N1,913.78, and by 1.59% month-on-month from N1,952.94.
However, not all food items followed the downward pattern. Onion prices climbed by 4.66% year-on-year, rising to N1,368.32 from N1,251.52.
Despite the annual increase, the item recorded a 9.33% decline month-on-month. Boneless beef also posted a sharp uptick, rising by 16.93% year-on-year to N6,850.51, and edging higher monthly by 0.16%.
State-by-state variations:
Price disparities across the country remain significant.
Brown beans: Imo posted the highest average price at N2,174.09, while Yobe recorded the lowest at N1,263.68.
White garri: Bayelsa led with N1,165.30, while Plateau offered the lowest price at N490.10.
Tomatoes: Ebonyi topped the chart at N2,148.04, compared with Plateau’s N687.09—the lowest nationwide.
Local rice: Ogun residents paid the highest at N2,163.23, while Yobe had the cheapest at N1,523.47.
Onion bulbs: Abia recorded the highest at N2,353.05, while Kwara had the lowest at N833.07.
Boneless beef: Abia again topped the list with N8,984.43, and Benue offered the lowest average price at N5,419.03.
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Zonal breakdown
Brown beans: Highest in the South-East (N2,105.94) and South-West (N2,081.33), lowest in the North-West (N1,349.23).
White garri: Costliest in the South-East (N1,066.85) and South-South (N980.44), cheapest in the North-Central (N630.44).
Tomatoes: South-East led with N1,807.92, followed by South-South at N1,592.89; North-West was lowest at N898.21.
Local rice: Highest in North-Central (N2,021.70) and South-West (N1,966.89), lowest in North-East (N1,803.38).
Onion bulbs: South-East posted the highest average at N1,950.88, followed by South-South at N1,647.47; North-West recorded the lowest at N997.58.
Federal efforts to stabilise prices
In September, President Bola Tinubu directed a Federal Executive Council Committee to intensify efforts to further reduce food costs nationwide.
The directive focuses on ensuring that farmers and traders can move produce safely through key routes without disruption, a measure expected to ease supply pressures and stabilise prices over time.
Despite the modest declines recorded in October, the food market remains volatile, with analysts projecting that sustained interventions will be crucial to achieving long-term price stability.
NAN
