Food Inflation Persists As Prices Of Basic Commodities Increase Across Several States
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has revealed that the prices of major food items including tomatoes, beans, garri, onions, ginger, and palm oil recorded fresh increases in April 2026 despite some year-on-year declines in selected commodities.
The bureau disclosed this in its Selected Food Prices Watch report for April 2026 released in Abuja on Tuesday.
According to the report, the average prices of staple food items continued to rise on a month-on-month basis, reflecting the persistent pressure on household food spending across the country.
The report showed that the average retail price of 1 kilogramme of tomatoes increased by 6.60 per cent in April, rising from N1,104.85 recorded in March 2026 to N1,177.92.
However, on a year-on-year basis, the price of tomatoes declined by 8.23 per cent compared to the N1,283.57 recorded in April 2025.
The NBS stated, “The average price of 1kg of tomatoes increased by 6.60 per cent on a month-on-month basis from N1,104.85 recorded in March 2026 to N1,177.92 in April 2026.”
“However, on a year-on-year basis, the price of 1kg of tomatoes decreased by 8.23 per cent from N1,283.57 recorded in April 2025.”
Similarly, the average price of 1 kilogramme of brown beans rose by 0.99 per cent month-on-month, increasing from N1,325.85 in March to N1,338.93 in April.
Despite the monthly rise, the commodity recorded a sharp year-on-year decline of 44.89 per cent from N2,429.39 recorded in April last year.
The report also showed that the average price of 1 kilogramme of white garri increased by 0.93 per cent from N801.54 in March to N808.96 in April.
On a yearly basis, the price of garri dropped significantly by 39.86 per cent compared to N1,345.10 recorded in April 2025.
According to the NBS, onions also witnessed a slight increase during the period under review.
The average price of 1 kilogramme of onions increased by 0.98 per cent from N1,153.14 in March to N1,164.39 in April.
However, onion prices decreased by 22.56 per cent on a year-on-year basis from N1,503.56 recorded in April 2025.
Fresh ginger also recorded an upward movement in April.
The report revealed that the average price of 1 kilogramme of fresh ginger rose by 0.73 per cent month-on-month, moving from N5,541.25 in March to N5,581.82 in April.
Unlike some other commodities that recorded yearly declines, ginger prices increased by 12.30 per cent when compared to N4,970.66 recorded in April last year.
Palm oil prices also recorded a marginal increase.
The average price of one litre of palm oil increased by 0.12 per cent from N2,393.38 in March to N2,396.32 in April.
The commodity equally recorded a year-on-year increase of 4.77 per cent compared to N2,516.36 recorded in April 2025.
The NBS report further provided a state-by-state analysis of food prices across the country.
According to the bureau, Bayelsa State recorded the highest average price of 1 kilogramme of tomatoes at N1,600.73, while Plateau State recorded the lowest price at N730.48.
For brown beans, Oyo State recorded the highest average price at N1,938.91, while Taraba State had the lowest average price at N750.
The report also showed that Abia State recorded the highest average price of 1 kilogramme of white garri at N1,075.47, while Plateau State had the lowest price at N517.94.
In the case of onions, Abia recorded the highest average price at N2,115.67, while Kwara State posted the lowest price at N684.38.
The NBS also noted that Abia State recorded one of the highest average prices for onion bulbs at N2,191.63, while Nasarawa recorded the lowest at N832.16.
For palm oil, Ekiti State recorded the highest average price at N2,819.09, while Abia recorded the lowest average price at N2,024.41.
Regional analysis in the report showed that the South-South zone recorded the highest average price of tomatoes at N1,561.10, followed closely by the South-East at N1,379.57.
The North-West recorded the lowest average tomato price at N822.72.
Similarly, the South-West and South-South recorded the highest average prices of brown beans at N1,787.09 and N1,764.99 respectively, while the North-East posted the lowest average price at N871.79.
For white garri, the South-East recorded the highest average price at N944.58, followed by the South-South at N944.01, while the North-Central recorded the lowest at N673.88.
The South-East and South-South also recorded the highest average prices for onions at N1,735.53 and N1,268.96 respectively, while the North-Central recorded the lowest average price at N911.40.
Meanwhile, the South-West recorded the highest average price of fresh ginger at N6,812.92, followed by the South-East at N6,432.15.
The North-East recorded the lowest average price of ginger at N881.12.
The latest report comes amid growing concerns over food affordability and inflationary pressures affecting millions of Nigerian households.
Economic analysts say although some commodities recorded yearly declines, the persistent month-on-month increase in food prices continues to put pressure on consumers already battling high transportation costs, inflation, and declining purchasing power.
