Every naira counts at the market right now. Nigeria’s food inflation crisis has eased from its 2025 peak, but prices remain sharply uneven across the country. A household in Adamawa pays roughly half what a Lagos resident pays for the same kilogram of white maize. That gap determines whether families eat well or cut meals.
The National Bureau of Statistics tracks retail prices for 38 food commodities across all states monthly. An analysis of the May 2026 edition ranks states by how often they recorded Nigeria’s lowest price for any given commodity, with heavier weighting applied to the staples that define everyday Nigerian household spending: rice, beans, garri, maize, bread, tomatoes, onions, vegetable oil, yam, eggs, meat, and fish.
The results are clear. Northern states dominate. And the price differences are not marginal.
Nigeria’s Food Price Landscape in May 2026
Overall, the direction of travel is positive. Year-on-year, several major staples became meaningfully cheaper. Brown beans fell 43.6% from May 2025 levels. Yellow garri dropped 39.8%. White garri declined 39.4%, white beans fell 36.4%, white maize lost 32.9%, and fresh onions dropped 26.6%. Grains followed: broken local rice fell 14.3%, imported long-grain rice declined 13.8%, and wheat flour dropped 12.3%.
Protein and perishables tell a different story. Frozen Titus fish prices rose 27.4% year-on-year. Chicken feet climbed 14.3%. Fresh tomatoes increased 12.1%, crayfish rose 11.5%, and fresh catfish gained 9%. For households that depend on fish and fresh produce, relief remains out of reach.
Quick-Reference Price Comparison Table
| Commodity | Cheapest State | Price (N) | National Average (N) | Discount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White maize (kg) | Adamawa | 400.00 | 815.83 | 51% |
| Brown beans (kg) | Taraba | 760.00 | 1,344.93 | 43.5% |
| White beans (kg) | Taraba | 760.00 | 1,297.18 | 41% |
| Sliced bread | Yobe | 1,026.70 | 1,687.18 | 39% |
| Broken local rice (kg) | Adamawa | 1,350.42 | 2,208.08 | 39% |
| Yellow garri (kg) | Taraba | 525.00 | 865.41 | 39% |
| White garri (kg) | Plateau | 521.10 | 813.24 | 36% |
| Fresh tilapia | Sokoto | 3,812.22 | 5,894.84 | 35% |
| Fresh tomatoes | Ekiti | 1,017.00 | 1,560.56 | 35% |
| Unsliced bread | Ekiti | 1,065.23 | 1,609.30 | 34% |
| Boneless beef (kg) | Sokoto | 5,833.67 | 7,171.41 | 19% |
| Imported rice (kg) | Yobe | 1,830.60 | 2,245.70 | 18.5% |
| Palm oil (75cl) | Abia | 2,025.75 | 2,396.62 | 15% |
| Fresh onions | Nasarawa | 850.00 | 1,180.01 | 28% |
10. Nasarawa: Nigeria’s Cheapest Onions
Nasarawa makes the top 10 on a single but significant commodity. Fresh onions sold for N850 per unit, compared to the national average of N1,180.01. That is a 28% saving. Onions feature in virtually every Nigerian meal. For high-volume household cooks, the saving is real and daily.
Other honourable mentions worth noting: Lagos offered the cheapest Semovita at N1,777.15, Kano recorded the lowest Irish potato price at N1,289.70, Bayelsa offered the cheapest crayfish at N6,608.57, Kebbi sold the cheapest smoked fish at N3,775.02, and Kogi posted the lowest goat meat price at N4,036.66.
9. Abia: The South’s Palm Oil Advantage
Abia is one of only two southern states to crack the top 10. Despite recording higher prices across many commodities, it offers Nigeria’s cheapest palm oil. A 75cl bottle sold for N2,025.75, about 15% below the national average of N2,396.62. Palm oil anchors Nigerian cooking from soups to stews, making this a meaningful cost advantage for households in the southeast.
8. Sokoto: Affordable Beef and Fish
Sokoto ranked eighth on the strength of two protein staples. Boneless beef sold for N5,833.67 per kilogram, nearly 19% below the national average of N7,171.41. Fresh tilapia cost N3,812.22, around 35% cheaper than the national average of N5,894.84. For households that prioritise protein, Sokoto delivers the most affordable animal-sourced options outside the northeast corridor.
7. Jigawa: Where Yam and Poultry Come Cheap
Jigawa recorded Nigeria’s lowest prices for yam and chicken feet in May 2026. Yam tubers cost N1,988.77 per kilogram, about 15% below the national average of N2,347.09. Chicken feet sold for N2,523.12, roughly 37% cheaper than the national average of N4,006.07. In a market where protein costs keep rising, Jigawa’s poultry prices stand out.
6. Bauchi: Rice and Groundnuts Below the National Average
Bauchi ranked sixth through two staples that anchor northern Nigerian diets. Local short-grain rice sold for N1,570.72 per kilogram, about 18% below the national average of N1,905.43. Roasted groundnuts cost N2,200, against a national average of N2,600.22. Both commodities move in high volumes in local markets, making Bauchi a competitive food destination for households in the north-central region.
5. Ekiti: The South’s Strongest Performer
Ekiti stands as the most competitive southern state on this list and one of the most impressive overall. Fresh tomatoes sold for N1,017, approximately 35% below the national average of N1,560.56. Unsliced bread cost N1,065.23, around 34% cheaper than the national average of N1,609.30. The state also recorded Nigeria’s cheapest Three Crown evaporated milk at N807.41. For a southern state competing against northern production advantages, Ekiti’s showing reflects strong local agricultural activity and relatively efficient local supply chains.
4. Yobe: Bread, Rice, and Flour at Steep Discounts
Yobe dominated processed cereal prices in May 2026. Sliced bread sold for N1,026.70, roughly 39% below the national average of N1,687.18. Imported long-grain rice cost N1,830.60, about 18.5% cheaper than the national average of N2,245.70. Wheat flour sold for N3,090.10, a 16% discount from the national average of N3,672.94. For households that eat bread daily and rely on processed grains, Yobe’s market offers one of the most affordable baskets in the country.
3. Plateau: Garri and Eggs at Record Lows
Plateau secured third place through two of Nigeria’s most widely consumed everyday foods. White garri sold for N521.10 per kilogram, around 36% below the national average of N813.24. Individual eggs cost N245.56, against the national average of N261.14. Sweet potatoes sold for N480.38, nearly 44% cheaper than the national average of N862.25. Plateau also recorded Nigeria’s lowest average egg price overall. For low-income households that depend on garri as a daily carbohydrate source, Plateau’s prices provide significant relief.
2. Taraba: Nigeria’s Beans Capital
Taraba took second place by offering the country’s cheapest beans prices across both major varieties. Brown beans sold for N760 per kilogram, a 43.5% discount from the national average of N1,344.93. White beans also sold for N760, about 41% below the national average of N1,297.18. Yellow garri cost N525 against a national average of N865.41. Taraba also recorded Nigeria’s lowest prices for frozen chicken at N4,510 and Peak evaporated milk at N870. No state matches Taraba’s dominance in plant-based protein affordability.
1. Adamawa: Nigeria’s Most Affordable Food Market
Adamawa leads every other state by a significant margin. It recorded the lowest national price for six key commodities in a single month. White maize sold for N400 per kilogram, against a national average of N815.83, making it 51% cheaper. Broken local rice cost N1,350.42 per kilogram, about 39% below the national average of N2,208.08. Groundnut oil sold for N2,200 per 75cl bottle against the national average of N3,113.05. Ripe plantain cost N1,680, roughly 24% below the national average of N2,210.24. Chicken wings sold for N3,454 and frozen Titus fish for N7,000, both the lowest in the country.
No other Nigerian state matches Adamawa’s breadth of food price competitiveness across staple categories.
Why the North Dominates Nigeria’s Cheap Food Rankings
The pattern across this ranking is not accidental. Northern states grow most of Nigeria’s staple crops. Grains, legumes, livestock, and root vegetables all originate closer to the markets that sell them cheapest. Farm-gate prices stay low. Transport distances stay short. Retail prices follow.
Southern markets absorb higher logistics costs at every stage of the supply chain. Fuel prices, road conditions, and urban demand pressure all push retail prices up. The result is a persistent north-south food price divide that leaves households in Lagos, Port Harcourt, and Enugu paying significantly more for the same items available cheaply in Adamawa or Taraba.
This is not simply a supply story. It is also a logistics and infrastructure story. Improving road links between agricultural production zones and southern urban markets, expanding cold chain capacity, and reducing post-harvest losses would all help bring northern price advantages southward.
Expert View
Nigeria’s food price geography reflects a structural reality that policy cannot fix through price controls alone. The states recording the lowest food prices sit closest to agricultural production, with shorter supply chains and lower input costs at every link. The intervention that would most directly reduce food costs for urban southern consumers is not subsidy or market intervention. It is infrastructure: better roads, more efficient logistics corridors, and investment in storage that prevents harvest-season surpluses from rotting before they reach city markets. Until those fundamentals improve, the north-south food price divide will persist regardless of inflation trends at the macro level.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which state has the cheapest food in Nigeria in 2026?
Adamawa recorded the lowest prices for the most staple food commodities in May 2026, based on NBS data. It offered the cheapest white maize, broken local rice, groundnut oil, ripe plantain, chicken wings, and frozen Titus fish.
Why is food cheaper in northern Nigeria than in southern states?
Northern states sit closer to Nigeria’s primary agricultural zones. Lower farm-gate costs, shorter supply chains, and higher availability of grains, legumes, and livestock keep retail prices lower. Southern markets pay more due to higher transport costs, urban demand pressure, and longer distribution chains.
Which Nigerian foods got cheaper in 2026 compared to 2025?
Brown beans fell 43.6% year-on-year in May 2026. Yellow garri dropped 39.8%, white garri fell 39.4%, white beans declined 36.4%, and white maize lost 32.9%. Imported rice, broken local rice, and wheat flour also recorded notable year-on-year declines.
