Food Prices Ease Slightly in October as Beans, Garri, Tomatoes and Rice Record Declines — NBS
By Enemona Samuel Endurance | The Bureau News
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has reported a marginal decline in the prices of several key food items in October 2025, offering mild relief to consumers amid ongoing concerns about living costs across Nigeria.
The data, published in the bureau’s Selected Food Prices Watch report on Friday, shows reductions in the average prices of beans, garri, tomatoes and locally produced rice compared to both September 2025 and October 2024. However, the prices of onion bulbs and boneless beef recorded increases on a year-on-year basis.
Beans, Garri, Tomatoes and Rice Record Year-on-Year Declines
According to the NBS, the average cost of 1kg of brown beans fell by 37.09 percent year-on-year — from N2,798.50 in October 2024 to N1,760.53 in October 2025. On a month-on-month basis, beans also dropped by 1.74 percent from N1,815.76 recorded in September.
Similarly, the average price of 1kg of white garri declined by 29.33 percent year-on-year, from N1,198.05 in October 2024 to N846.69 in October 2025. Month-on-month, prices dropped by 2.88 percent from N871.78 in September.
Tomato prices also reduced, with 1kg averaging N1,269.17 in October 2025 — a 13.43 percent fall compared to N1,465.99 in October 2024. Month-on-month, the decline stood at 0.83 percent.
Local rice saw a modest year-on-year decrease of 2.01 percent, falling from N1,944.64 in October 2024 to N1,913.78 in October 2025. Month-on-month, rice declined by 1.59 percent from N1,952.94 recorded in September.
Onions and Beef Prices Rise Year-on-Year
The report, however, shows an uptick in onion prices on a yearly basis. The average cost of 1kg of onion bulb rose by 4.66 percent from N1,251.52 in October 2024 to N1,368.32 in October 2025, though it decreased by 9.33 percent from the N1,307.44 recorded in September.
Boneless beef recorded a more significant increase, rising by 16.93 percent year-on-year from N5,858.58 in October 2024 to N6,850.51 in October 2025. Month-on-month, the change was a slight increase of 0.16 percent compared to September’s N6,861.25.
State-Level Analysis Shows Wide Price Variations
The report highlights notable disparities in food prices across states. Imo recorded the highest average price of 1kg of brown beans at N2,174.09, while Yobe had the lowest at N1,263.68.
Bayelsa posted the highest average price for 1kg of white garri at N1,165.3, compared to Plateau’s low of N490.1.
Ebonyi recorded the highest tomato prices at N2,148.04, while Plateau once again had the lowest at N687.09.
For local rice, Ogun recorded the highest average price at N2,163.23, while Yobe recorded the lowest at N1,523.47.
Onion prices were highest in Abia at N2,353.05 and lowest in Kwara at N833.07. Abia also posted the highest average price for boneless beef at N8,984.43, while Benue had the lowest at N5,419.03.
Regional Trends
South-East and South-West recorded the highest average prices for brown beans at N2,105.94 and N2,081.33 respectively, with the lowest found in the North-West at N1,349.23.
For white garri, the highest prices were in the South-East (N1,066.85) and South-South (N980.44), while the North-Central region recorded the lowest (N630.44).
The South-East led again in tomato prices at N1,807.92, followed by the South-South (N1,592.89). The North-West recorded the lowest at N898.21.
Local rice was most expensive in the North-Central (N2,021.70) and South-West (N1,966.89), and cheapest in the North-East at N1,803.38.
Onion prices peaked in the South-East (N1,950.88) and South-South (N1,647.47), with the North-West recording the lowest at N997.58.
The development comes as the Federal Government intensifies its push to stabilise food prices nationwide. In September, President Bola Tinubu directed a Federal Executive Council committee to implement measures ensuring the safe passage of food products across Nigeria’s transport corridors.
