Cost of preparing Nigerian jollof rice up 19.4% amid Middle East crisis, report says

Preparing a pot of Nigeria's beloved jollof rice has become significantly more expensive, with the national average cost jumping 19.4% from N25,486 in October 2025 to N30,435 by March 2026. This surge, detailed in the SBM Jollof Index Q1 2026 report, is largely attributed to the escalating crisis in the Middle East.

The conflict, which began in late February, sent Brent crude oil prices soaring from the low $70s to nearly $120 per barrel. This directly impacted Nigeria, where petrol prices nearly doubled to N1,325 per liter in Lagos and N1,367 in Abuja. Consequently, headline inflation rose to 15.38% in March, with month-on-month inflation more than doubling. Food inflation also climbed, with rural monthly rates reaching 6.73%, highlighting the impact of transport costs on essential goods.

Research firm SBM surveyed 220 traders nationwide in late March, finding that 82.7% directly blamed price increases on the war, fuel costs, and transportation expenses. The SBM Jollof Index, which tracks twelve key ingredients for a family of five, revealed that a pot of jollof now costs over 40% of the national minimum wage of N70,000. The report notes that families are resorting to swapping meat for smoked fish and walking to markets to manage the rising costs.

“

In March 2026, a pot of jollof rice cost an average of N30,435, up 19.4 per cent from October. The Iran war doubled fuel prices, tripled transport fares, and sent food costs spiralling. Families now swap meat for smoked fish and trek to markets to survive.