Tomatoes Price Surge 32%, Beans,Garri Offer Relief —NBS

Nigeria’s food market showed signs of changing inflation dynamics in May 2026, with sharp increases in the cost of key perishables offset by steep declines in staple food prices, according to the latest Food Price Watch report released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

The report indicates that while consumers received some relief from lower prices of staples such as beans, garri and onions on an annual basis, fresh produce prices – particularly tomatoes and ginger – continued to rise, suggesting persistent supply and distribution pressures within the agricultural value chain.

Data from the NBS showed that the average retail price of tomatoes (1kg) rose to N1,560.56 in May 2026 from N1,392.71 recorded in May 2025, representing a year-on-year increase of 12.05 per cent. More notably, the commodity posted a sharp month-on-month increase of 32.48 per cent from April levels, signalling renewed inflation pressure in one of Nigeria’s most consumed household food items.

Market analysts often regard tomato price movements as an indicator of broader food supply conditions because of the commodity’s sensitivity to transportation costs, seasonal output and post-harvest losses.

By contrast, beans recorded one of the strongest price corrections among staple foods. The average price of brown beans (1kg) fell to N1,344.93 in May 2026, marking a 43.61 percent decline compared with N2,385.15 in May 2025. However, the commodity still edged up slightly by 0.45 percent from April 2026, suggesting that recent downward price momentum may be slowing.

Garri, another staple consumed across households, also recorded a major annual decline. The average price of loose white garri (1kg) dropped by 39.39 percent year-on-year to N813.24 from N1,341.79 recorded a year earlier. Despite the yearly reduction, prices increased marginally by 0.53 percent compared with April.

Onion prices equally reflected easing annual inflationary pressure. Average prices declined by 26.59 percent year-on-year to N1,180.01 per kilogram from N1,607.38 in May 2025, although monthly data showed a 1.34 per cent increase.

Meanwhile, fresh ginger maintained an upward trajectory. The average price rose to N5,906.82 per kilogram, representing a 7.28 per cent year-on-year increase and a 5.82 percent month-on-month rise, highlighting sustained demand and elevated market pricing for selected agricultural commodities.

The state-level analysis revealed significant disparities in food affordability across Nigeria.

Lagos recorded the highest average price for tomatoes at N1,974.81 per kilogram, almost double the lowest price of N1,017 reported in Ekiti State. For beans, Oyo emerged as the most expensive market with an average price of N1,941.78, while Taraba recorded the lowest at N760.

Garri prices were highest in Abia at N1,075.71 per kilogram and lowest in Plateau at N521.10. Onion prices also varied sharply, with Abia posting the highest average retail price at N2,199.07 compared with N850 in Nasarawa.

Regional patterns further reflected structural differences in supply and distribution.

The South-East recorded the highest average tomato price at N1,838.40, followed by the South-South at N1,821.60, while the North-West remained the cheapest zone at N1,182.39.

For beans, the South-West and South-South recorded the highest average prices at N1,790.71 and N1,768.66 respectively, while the North-East posted the lowest average at N876.46.

Garri prices were also highest in the South-East at N947.08, followed closely by the South-South at N944.01, while North-Central consumers enjoyed the lowest average price at N676.21.

In the ginger market, the South-West recorded the highest average retail price at N6,969.86 per kilogram, followed by the South-East at N6,566.13, while the North-East maintained the lowest average at N4,495.29.

The latest figures suggest Nigeria’s food inflation story is becoming increasingly segmented, with durable staples showing easing annual prices while perishables continue to experience fresh cost pressures. For households, this means spending relief may remain uneven, while for policymakers, the data underscores the importance of strengthening storage, transport networks and agricultural supply chains to sustain food price moderation.