Making a pot of jollof rice in Nigeria now costs an average of N25,486, up from N21,300 in September 2024. That’s nearly a 20 per cent jump in less than six months..

The new data was revealed in the latest Jollof Index by SBM Intelligence, a research group that tracks the cost of popular local meals to monitor food inflation.

According to the report titled Staple Under Stress, the hike in prices is mainly due to soaring costs of basic ingredients like pepper, onions, rice, turkey, and beef.

“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.

The Jollof Index surveyed 13 major markets across the country, calculating the cost of feeding a family of five with a standard pot of jollof. While prices stabilised briefly at the end of 2024, they surged again in the first quarter of 2025.

SBM also blamed insecurity in farming areas, high transport fares, and the recent increase in electricity tariffs for the spike.

“Insecurity continues to be a pressing concern,” the report added, citing killings of farmers in Benue, Borno, and Plateau States, which disrupted local food production and supply chains.

The index further pointed out that with petrol still expensive and energy bills rising, Nigerian households are feeling the heat, not just from the kitchen stove, but from their wallets too.