Jollof Rice Costs Drop 11.5% as Chicken Prices Fall

Nigerian households are benefiting from a decrease in food costs, particularly in the preparation of jollof rice, which saw a reduction of 11.5% in the third quarter of 2026. According to a report by SBM Intelligence, the National Average Jollof Index fell from N29,578 in June to N26,178 in September, a decrease of N3,400.

This decline marks the steepest quarterly drop since SBM began tracking jollof rice costs in July 2016. The reduction is attributed to lower prices for chicken, beef, and vegetable oil as agricultural products became more available in markets.

In Lagos, the price of 90 centilitres of vegetable oil decreased from N5,000 to N3,000. The report indicated that the most significant price drop occurred between June and July, with a N2,312 decrease.

While prices stabilized in August, they fell by another N984 in September. The easing of food inflation, which dropped from 20.31% in July to 19.57% in August, coincided with these changes.

However, the price reductions varied across locations, with Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor experiencing a price increase due to flooding.