The National Bureau of Statistics says the average price of a 50kg bag of local rice (short grain) increased by 20.5 per cent in March 2026 to N112,000, compared to N92,946 recorded in February 2026.
The bureau disclosed this in its Selected Food Price Watch Report for March 2026 released on Tuesday.
Despite the reported increase, the bureau noted that recent market findings showed the average price of a 50kg bag of local short-grain rice currently stands at about N60,000 in some markets.
The report also stated that the average price of a 50kg bag of foreign rice rose by 3.06 per cent to N133,975 in March from N110,589 recorded in February.
According to the NBS, several other food commodities also recorded increases during the review period.
“The Selected Food Price Watch report for March 2026 shows that the average price of Eggs (a crate of 30 pieces) on a month-on-month basis increased by 2.0 per cent compared to February 2026. Similarly, the average price of Beans brown (1kg) was N1,325.85 in March 2026. This item increased by 1.41 per cent from N1,307.44 in February 2026,” the bureau stated.
The report added that the average price of white garri sold loose rose by 1.38 per cent to N801.54 in March, while onion bulbs increased by 1.59 per cent to N1,153.14 during the same period.
Fresh ginger also recorded a month-on-month increase of 0.61 per cent, with the average price standing at N5,541.25 per kilogramme.
The bureau further revealed state-by-state variations in food prices across the country.
According to the report, Taraba State recorded the highest average price for a crate of eggs at N6,999, while Niger State recorded the lowest at N5,610.04.
For brown beans, Oyo State had the highest average price at N1,937.20 per kilogramme, while Taraba recorded the lowest at N745.
In the case of white garri, Abia State recorded the highest average price at N1,075.45, while Plateau State recorded the lowest at N513.78.
The report also showed that onion bulbs were most expensive in Abia State at N2,115.67 per kilogramme, while Kwara State recorded the lowest average price at N829.9.
The latest figures highlight the continued pressure on food prices across Nigeria amid inflationary concerns and rising living costs.
