NBS report highlights significant year-on-year and monthly declines across key staples….
The cost of key food staples across Nigeria recorded a significant drop in October 2025, according to the latest Selected Food Price Watch report published by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Friday.
The report shows that several essential items including rice, beans, garri and tomatoes fell both on a year-on-year and month-on-month basis, offering some relief to consumers after months of elevated food costs.
Rice records broad declines
NBS figures revealed that the average price of 1kg of local rice declined to N1,913.78 in October 2025. This marks a 2.01% fall from N1,944.64 in October 2024, and a 1.59% reduction compared to September 2025.
The drop is notable given rice’s importance as a staple food across Nigerian households.
Beans see the most dramatic fall
The price of brown beans (1kg) slid to N1,760.53, representing a steep 37.09% plunge from N2,798.50 in the same month last year. Prices also dipped by 3.04% from September 2025.
The NBS attributed the sharp decline to stronger harvests and improved market supplies, particularly from farming hubs in the North-central and North-west zones.
Garri and tomatoes also cheaper
White garri prices continued their downward trend, dropping to N846.69 from N1,198.05 in October 2024, a 29.33% year-on-year decline. On a monthly basis, prices eased by 2.88% from the N871.78 recorded in September.
Loose tomatoes (1kg) also became more affordable, with prices falling to N1,269.17, down 13.43% from a year earlier and 0.83% lower than September’s levels. Despite being largely affected by weather and transportation disruptions, the NBS said tomato supply had improved across major producing states.
State-by-State Price Variations
The report highlighted striking price disparities across states, underscoring the uneven nature of Nigeria’s food distribution networks.
- Local rice: Ogun posted the highest average price at N2,163.23, while Yobe recorded the lowest at N1,523.47.
- Brown beans: Imo State led with N2,174.09 per kg, compared to Yobe’s lowest price of N1,263.68.
- White garri: Bayelsa recorded the highest price at N1,165.30, while Plateau offered the cheapest at N490.10.
- Tomatoes: Ebonyi topped the chart at N2,224.04, while Plateau again posted the lowest price at N687.09.
NBS noted that the wide gaps reflect differences in transportation costs, market accessibility, storage facilities and regional production patterns.
Regional Breakdown Shows Clear North–South Divide
Across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones, food prices also varied significantly.
- Local rice: North-central recorded the highest average at N2,021.70, while the North-east posted the lowest at N1,803.38.
- Brown beans: Prices were highest in the South-east (N2,105.94) and South-west (N2,081.33). The North-west had the lowest average price at N1,349.23.
- White garri: The South-east was the costliest region with an average price of N1,066.85, followed by the South-south at N980.44. The North-central zone had the lowest average price at N630.44.
Inflation Context
The NBS noted that headline inflation eased to 16.05% in October 2025, dropping from 18.02% in September.
Food inflation also moderated sharply to 13.12% year-on-year, down from 39.16% in October 2024, a 26.04-percentage-point decline following the adoption of a new Consumer Price Index (CPI) base year.
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