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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Economy & Trade

Cost of cooking jollof rice in Nigeria hit ₦30,435 in Q1 2026 -Report

From The Punch · (5h ago) English Critical tone

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • The cost of preparing a pot of jollof rice for a family of five in Nigeria surged by 19.4% in six months to ₦30,435 in Q1 2026.
  • Rising fuel prices, transport disruptions, and global energy shocks are cited as key drivers of the increased food costs.
  • Households are adapting by reducing meat consumption, buying in bulk, and shifting to cheaper cooking fuels like charcoal.

A new report by SBM Intelligence, highlighted by PUNCH Online, paints a stark picture of Nigeria's escalating cost of living, with the quintessential jollof rice now demanding a staggering ₦30,435 for a family-sized pot in the first quarter of 2026. This represents a significant 19.4% jump in just six months, a clear indicator of the deep-seated inflation gripping the nation.

This edition of the Jollof Index spans October 2025 to March 2026 and distils the turmoil into a single meal. The national average cost of cooking a pot of jollof for a family of five rose 19.4 percent to N30,435.

— SBM Intelligence ReportDescribing the findings of the Jollof Index and the significant price increase.

The report directly links this culinary crisis to a confluence of factors: soaring fuel prices, disrupted transportation networks, and the ripple effects of global energy shocks, particularly those stemming from the Middle East conflict. With Brent crude prices breaching $110 per barrel, domestic fuel costs have skyrocketed, pushing petrol above ₦1,300 per litre and diesel past ₦1,500. These increased logistics expenses are inevitably passed down the food supply chain, contributing to the nationwide retail food inflation.

Meat, I don’t bother again. The protein I use now is smoked dry fish, because the cost of meat, chicken, or turkey is highly expensive.

— Lagos RespondentIllustrating the impact of high food prices on household consumption.

Nigerians are visibly altering their consumption and shopping habits. Respondents shared how they've cut back on expensive proteins like meat and chicken, opting for more affordable alternatives like smoked fish. The burden of transport costs has also led to changes in shopping behavior, with many now buying in bulk or patronizing neighborhood stores to minimize trips. Even cooking methods are shifting, with a noticeable move towards charcoal to mitigate the high cost of cooking gas. This pervasive economic pressure forces consumers to manage portions strictly, as one respondent poignantly put it, 'We now eat when we are hungry. There is no ‘can I have more’ You just manage the portion you are given.' The report's findings underscore a growing structural issue in Nigeria's food inflation, driven by an over-reliance on fuel, logistical hurdles, and currency pressures.

I no longer go to the market whenever I feel like it. I buy in bulk or shop in my neighbourhood for small items.

— RespondentExplaining changes in shopping behavior due to transport costs.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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