By Ayo Kehinde
Prices of key food staples fell significantly in April 2026, offering consumers some relief from persistent cost-of-living pressures as food inflation continued to moderate across Nigeria.
Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed that the average price of white garri sold declined by 39.86 percent year-on-year, while brown beans recorded an even steeper drop of 44.89 percent compared to April 2025.
According to the NBS Selected Food Price Watch report, white garri sold for an average of ₦808.96 per kilogram in April 2026, down from ₦1,345.10 a year earlier. Brown beans fell to ₦1,338.93 per kilogram from ₦2,429.39 recorded in the corresponding period of 2025.
Despite the annual decline, both commodities recorded slight month-on-month increases. Garri rose by 0.93 percent from March, while beans increased by 0.99 percent, suggesting that short-term price pressures remain present in some food categories.
Other staples also posted mixed performances. Tomatoes declined by 8.23 percent year-on-year to ₦1,177.92 per kilogram but increased by 6.60 percent from the previous month. Onion bulbs fell by 22.56 percent year-on-year to ₦1,164.39 per kilogram, while fresh ginger bucked the trend, rising by 12.30 percent to ₦5,581.82 per kilogram.
The report also highlighted significant regional disparities in food prices. Oyo recorded the highest average price for brown beans at ₦1,938.91 per kilogram, while Taraba posted the lowest at ₦750. Abia had the highest average garri price at ₦1,075.47 per kilogram, compared with ₦517.94 in Plateau State.
For tomatoes, Bayelsa recorded the highest average price at ₦1,600.73 per kilogram, while Plateau had the lowest at ₦730.48.
The latest figures come as food inflation slows from levels seen a year earlier. NBS data showed food inflation stood at 16.06 percent in April 2026, significantly lower than the 24.68 percent recorded in April 2025, reflecting easing pressures across several staple food categories.
