See how much less food your monthly grocery budget buys compared to 2023. Select your staple items and see the exact impact of Nigeria food inflation on your shopping basket.
Nigerian food prices have increased 3-5x for many staples between early 2023 and mid-2026. Three forces drove this. First, the June 2023 fuel subsidy removal sent petrol prices from ₦185/litre to over ₦600/litre immediately, dramatically increasing transport costs from farm to market. A bag of rice travelling from Kebbi to Lagos now costs significantly more to move. Second, the Naira devaluation from ₦460/$ to ₦1,600+/$ increased the cost of all imported inputs: fertiliser, agro-chemicals, food processing machinery parts, and imported food items themselves. Third, the removal of electricity subsidies raised production and cold storage costs throughout the food distribution chain.
The result is a structural increase in the cost of feeding a Nigerian household that has far outpaced wage growth. NBS data shows food inflation peaked above 60% year-on-year in early 2024 before moderating to 40-50% in 2025-2026 -- still among the highest food inflation rates globally.
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) tracks food prices through the Consumer Price Index (CPI), sampling prices of a standardised basket of goods across states monthly. The food sub-index covers staple foods, processed foods, beverages, and eating-out prices. State-level price data is collected by NBS field officers visiting markets, supermarkets, and small retailers. The national food inflation figure is a weighted average across states and item categories.
This calculator uses actual market price tracking from major Nigerian markets (Mile 12, Wuse, Bodija, Onitsha) to provide a personalised basket inflation rate based on what you actually buy, rather than a broad national average. Your specific basket may have inflated more or less than the NBS headline figure depending on which items you purchase.
Several concrete strategies reduce the real impact of food price inflation. First, buy staples in bulk directly from wholesale markets -- a 50kg bag of rice from Mile 12 or Wuse typically costs 15-25% less than buying in small quantities from a neighbourhood shop, and 25-35% less than a supermarket. Second, organise a food co-op: pool money with 5-10 colleagues to buy full bags and split them, accessing wholesale prices for household-sized quantities. Third, shift protein sources toward eggs (which have inflated less severely than chicken) and dried fish, which is a highly nutritious and cheaper alternative. Fourth, grow herbs, tomatoes and peppers in containers on a balcony -- eliminating some of the most volatile vegetable categories from your budget.