Jollof Rice Prices Drop 11.5%, Yet Many Households Still Struggle

The average cost of making a pot of jollof rice in Nigeria decreased by 11.5% in the third quarter of 2026. This marks the largest drop in a decade, according to a report by SBM Intelligence, a research firm focused on Africa. The report was released on Wednesday.

The cost fell from about N29,578 in June to N26,178 in September, largely due to lower prices for chicken, beef, vegetable oil, and other ingredients. However, many households continue to struggle with high living costs and stagnant incomes.

SBM Intelligence noted that while the price drop has allowed some families to buy more protein and vegetables, it has not significantly improved their overall financial situation. Food prices remain much higher than in previous years. The report highlighted that even with the 11.5% decrease, the current cost is still 5.8% higher than in September 2025 and 540% higher than in July 2016.

The report also mentioned a data error that initially exaggerated the price drop. After correcting this, the actual reduction was estimated at 8.5%, bringing the adjusted average cost to around N27,055.

Prices varied across regions. Lagos saw the largest drop of 35.6%, with costs falling from N34,700 to N22,350 in local markets. In contrast, Port Harcourt experienced a 2.6% increase in prices, reaching N32,000, mainly due to flooding and transportation issues.

Despite the overall decline in prices, many households reported that their incomes have not increased, making it difficult to buy food in bulk. Families in Abuja, for example, continue to face financial pressure from rent, school fees, and transportation costs.

SBM warned that the price relief might be temporary, as transportation costs are still high and fuel prices could reverse the recent gains. They urged policymakers to tackle issues affecting food distribution, such as poor roads and high fuel costs.