Cost of cooking jollof rice rose to ₦30,435 in Q1 2026 – Report
The average cost of preparing a pot of jollof rice for a family of five in Nigeria climbed to ₦30,435 in the first quarter of 2026, according to a new report released by SBM Intelligence.
The report revealed that the figure represents a 19.4 per cent increase within six months, highlighting the growing impact of rising fuel prices, transport costs and inflation on household food expenses across the country.
According to the report, escalating global energy tensions linked to conflict in the Middle East pushed Brent crude prices above $110 per barrel, resulting in higher domestic fuel prices and increased logistics costs in Nigeria.
SBM Intelligence noted that petrol prices in several major cities rose beyond ₦1,300 per litre, while diesel prices exceeded ₦1,500 per litre, worsening transportation costs across food supply chains and contributing to food inflation nationwide.
“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 per cent to ₦30,435,” the report stated.
It added that some cities recorded sharper increases during the review period.
“Abuja markets jumped by double digits, Lagos spiked 23 per cent in a month, and Port Harcourt completed a six-month climb of 55 per cent,” the report added.
Residents interviewed for the report described how the rising cost of living has altered feeding habits and shopping patterns.
A Lagos resident said many households had stopped buying meat due to soaring prices.
“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,” the respondent said.
Another consumer explained that transportation costs had forced many families to reduce frequent market visits.
“I no longer go to the market whenever I feel like it. I buy in bulk or shop in my neighbourhood for small items,” she said.
The report also showed that households are adjusting their cooking methods as the price of cooking gas continues to rise.
One respondent said, “Cooking gas is expensive now, so I use a charcoal pot to cook the whole family meal in the morning and use a gas cooker only for smaller meals.”
SBM Intelligence further noted that traders now change prices more frequently in response to fuel costs and exchange rate fluctuations.
“Any small happening, the trader will say a different price from what they said last week and will say ‘fuel price has increased’ or ‘dollar has risen,’” a consumer said.
The report showed significant regional differences in food prices, with some markets in Abuja recording costs above ₦36,000 per pot of jollof rice.
Despite the disparities, the report concluded that Nigeria’s food inflation crisis is becoming increasingly structural, driven by fuel dependency, logistics challenges and continued pressure on the naira.
Reflecting the growing hardship faced by many households, one respondent said, “We now eat when we are hungry. There is no ‘can I have more?’ You just manage the portion you are given.”
SBM Intelligence explained that the Jollof Index tracks the average cost of preparing jollof rice for a family of five, using household size data from the National Bureau of Statistics.
“Jollof rice was chosen because it is a delicacy common throughout Nigeria and West Africa, making it a suitable benchmark,” the report noted.
