The iconic Nigerian jollof rice, a staple at celebrations and daily meals alike, has become significantly more expensive to prepare.
A recent report reveals that the average cost of cooking a single pot has surged to N25,486 as of March 2025 — a sharp increase from N21,300 just six months prior. The rise highlights growing concerns over food inflation and its impact on households across the country.
According to punchng.com, this is about a 19 per cent increase in the price of the popular dish.
This was revealed in the latest SBM Jollof Index report titled “Staple Under Stress.”
According to SBM Intelligence, a research and communications group, it looked at how food prices changed between the last quarter of 2024 and the first quarter of 2025.
The report disclosed that the rising prices of key ingredients like pepper, onions, turkey, beef, and rice are the main reasons for the increase.
The SBM Jollof Index tracks how much it costs to cook jollof rice, which is a common Nigerian meal, and uses it to monitor changes in food prices across the country.
The report said protein, especially turkey, remains one of the most expensive parts of the meal.
“Turkey now costs between N8,000 and N10,500 per kilo, a big jump from the N1,500 to N1,700 it cost back in 2016,” the report stated.
It also blamed the rise in food prices on insecurity in food-producing areas, which has made it harder to get farm products to markets.
It added that high transport and energy costs are also pushing prices higher.
The report looked at how much it costs to cook a pot of jollof rice for a family of five across 13 markets in Nigeria, comparing figures from September 2024 to March 2025.
While some areas saw stable prices briefly in late 2024, food prices went up again in early 2025.
“For instance, petrol prices have remained elevated, and electricity tariffs for Band A users have increased, adding to household financial strain. Insecurity continues to be a pressing concern, with incidents such as the killing of farmers in Benue, Borno and Plateau States disrupting agricultural activities and limiting the local food supply.
“The national average rose by 19.7 per cent, increasing from N21,300 in September to N25,486 in March, highlighting worsening food inflation and its deepening impact on household nutrition and spending,” the report said
