The National Bureau of Statistics has disclosed that the average retail price of a 50kg bag of local rice rose by 20.5 per cent in March 2026, climbing to N112,000 from N92,946 recorded in February.
The bureau made this known in its Selected Food Price Watch report for March 2026 released on Wednesday.
According to the report, the average price of imported rice also increased during the review period, rising by 3.06 per cent to N133,975 from N110,589 recorded in February.
The latest figures come amid continued concerns over rising food prices across the country, although market checks in some locations indicated that a 50kg bag of local short-grain rice currently sells for about N60,000.
The NBS report further showed that several staple food items recorded moderate increases in March.
It stated that the average price of a crate of eggs increased by two per cent month-on-month, while the average cost of brown beans rose by 1.41 per cent to N1,325.85 per kilogram from N1,307.44 in February.
Similarly, the average price of loose white garri increased by 1.38 per cent to N801.54 per kilogram, while the cost of onion bulbs rose by 1.59 per cent to N1,153.14 within the same period.
Fresh ginger also recorded a slight increase of 0.61 per cent, with the average price settling at N5,541.25 per kilogram.
The bureau noted that Taraba State recorded the highest average price for a crate of eggs at N6,999, while Niger State posted the lowest price at N5,610.04.
For brown beans, Oyo State recorded the highest average price at N1,937.20 per kilogram, whereas Taraba posted the lowest at N745.
The report added that Abia State recorded the highest average price for white garri at N1,075.45 per kilogram, while Plateau State had the lowest at N513.78.
In the case of onion bulbs, Abia again topped the list with an average price of N2,115.67 per kilogram, while Kwara State recorded the lowest at N829.90.
