The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) released its Selected Food Prices Watch for March 2026, showing that most staple items recorded month‑on‑month increases while many posted sizable year‑on‑year declines. The report, unveiled in Abuja on Wednesday, offers a state‑by‑state and zonal breakdown of price movements for eggs, beans, garri, onions, ginger and palm oil.
Overall, the average price of a crate of 30 eggs fell 20.12 % year‑on‑year, from N7,670.56 in March 2025 to N6,127.63 in March 2026. On a month‑to‑month basis the price rose 2.00 % from N6,007.35 in February 2026. Brown beans (1 kg) showed the steepest annual drop, down 49.39 % from N2,616.26 to N1,325.85, yet it was 1.41 % higher than February’s N1,307.44. White garri (1 kg) decreased 41.19 % year‑on‑year, from N1,362.96 to N801.40, but rose 1.38 % from February’s N790.62.
Onion prices (1 kg) fell 19.63 % compared with March 2025, moving from N1,434.85 to N1,153.14, while a modest 1.59 % increase was recorded from February’s N1,135.12. Fresh ginger (1 kg) bucked the downward trend, rising 20.46 % year‑on‑year to N5,541.25, with a marginal 0.61 % month‑on‑month gain from February’s N5,507.43. Palm oil (1 litre) slipped 4.71 % year‑on‑year, from N2,511.77 to N2,393.38, but edged up 0.27 % from February’s N2,386.96.
State‑level data reveal notable variations. Taraba recorded the highest average crate price for eggs at N6,999.00, while Niger posted the lowest at N5,610.04. Oyo led for brown beans at N1,937.20 per kilogram, contrasted with Taraba’s N745.00. Abia registered the costliest white garri at N1,075.45, whereas Plateau’s price was N513.78. The most expensive onion bulb (1 kg) was found in Abia at N2,115.67, with Kwara offering the cheapest at N684.38. For palm oil, Ekiti’s average price peaked at N2,801.95 per litre, while Abia’s was N2,012.54.
Zonal analysis shows the South‑East posted the highest average crate price for eggs at N6,521.47, followed by the North‑East at N6,375.91; the North‑West recorded the lowest at N5,908.61. The South‑West and South‑South recorded the top average prices for brown beans at N1,770.57 and N1,762.49 respectively, with the North‑West at the low end (N851.11). White garri was most expensive in the South‑South (N942.68) and South‑East (N942.04), and cheapest in the North‑Central (N670.16). Onion bulbs were highest in the South‑East (N1,714.81) and South‑South (N1,266.80), and lowest in the North‑Central (N907.76).
The figures underscore persistent regional disparities in food costs despite overall downward trends for several staples. The NBS will continue to monitor price movements, providing data that can inform policy responses aimed at stabilising food markets across Nigeria.
