Rising Food Prices Push More Nigerian Households to the Brink

 By Wuraola Adetoro 

Lagos January 11, 2026 

 Rising food prices across Nigeria are placing increased pressure on households, as millions of families struggle to afford basic meals amid persistent inflation and economic uncertainty.

Across major cities including Lagos, Abuja, Ibadan, and Port Harcourt, the cost of staple foods such as rice, beans, garri, cooking oil, and tomatoes has continued to rise, forcing many households to cut back on meals or seek cheaper alternatives. Traders and consumers say the situation has worsened since the start of the year.

In several markets visited by reporters, a bag of locally produced rice now sells for significantly more than it did six months ago, while the price of beans and vegetable oil has nearly doubled in some areas. Many traders attribute the increase to higher transportation costs, unstable exchange rates, and poor agricultural output.

“I barely cook twice a day anymore,” said Aisha Musa, a mother of four in Abuja. “What we buy with ₦5,000 last year cannot last two days now.”

 Economists warn that the rising cost of food, which accounts for a large share of household spending, is pushing more Nigerians into poverty. According to analysts, inflationary pressures, fuel price adjustments, and insecurity in key farming regions have disrupted food supply chains, worsening the situation.

  

 

Farmers in parts of the federal government has acknowledged the impact of food inflation and announced measures aimed at boosting local food production and easing distribution.  

  

However, many Nigerians say the effects of these policies are yet to be felt.

Civil society groups have called on the government to act urgently, warning that prolonged food insecurity could worsen malnutrition, especially among children and the elderly.

As inflation continues to erode purchasing power, many Nigerians fear that without immediate and sustained intervention, the cost-of-living crisis will deepen further in the months ahead.