Business News
Jollof Index 2025: Food Crisis Worsens in Nigeria
SBM Intelligence released its 2025 Jollof Index for Nigeria & Ghana on April 23. The report paints a grim picture of Nigeria’s escalating food crisis.
The report outlines a worsening food crisis in West Africa, as price fluctuations, climate shocks, and economic instability threaten food security for millions.
Why the Jollof Index Matters
Created by SBM Intelligence, the Jollof Index is a metric used to monitor the cost of making a pot of jollof rice. Jollof rice is more than just a meal; it is the most popular dish in West Africa.
Ingredients for making jollof rice include rice, tomatoes, onions, seasoning cubes, groundnut oil, and protein like chicken or fish.
Like the Big Mac Index globally, the Jollof Index offers timely insights into food inflation and purchasing, especially in urban centres and conflict zones.
How the Jollof Index Works
SBM Intelligence surveys prices for jollof rice ingredients in key markets across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones. The index calculates:
- Total cost per pot in urban centres: Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano, etc.
- Percentage changes over time
- Regional disparities based on local market trends
Jollof Index Nigeria 2025
The SBM Intelligence Jollof Index, 2025 edition, shows regional differences in food price inflation across Nigeria.
The Jollof Index in Nigeria indicates that the national average cost of preparing jollof rice surged by 19%, increasing from N21,300 in September 2024 to N25,486 in March 2025.
The report highlights worsening food inflation and its increasing effects on household nutrition and spending.
Key Regional Highlights:
- Port Harcourt (Rivers State)
- Price Surge: From ₦20,400 in September 2024 to ₦31,650 in March 2025 — a massive 55.1% increase.
- Key Drivers: Supply chain challenges, high fuel costs, region’s state of emergency and political disruptions.
- Kano (Kano State)
- Price Surge: From ₦19,020 to ₦29,250 — a 53.8% jump.
- Key Drivers: As one of the most populous northern cities, Kano’s sharp price hike affects millions. Ongoing insecurity in the region and rising transportation costs.
- Bauchi (Bauchi State)
- Price Surge: ₦23,470 to ₦31,650 — up 34.9%.
- Key Drivers: Weak supply chains, regional security challenges, and rising transport costs.
- Abuja (FCT)
- Wuse II: From ₦28,300 to ₦30,500 (7.8% rise)
- Nyanya: From ₦25,920 to ₦27,900 (7.6% rise)
| City | September 2024 | March 2025 | % Change | Key Drivers |
| Port Harcourt | ₦20,400 | ₦31,650 | +55.1% | Supply chain challenges, high fuel costs, region’s state of emergency and political disruptions |
| Kano | ₦19,020 | ₦29,250 | +53.8% | Ongoing insecurity and rising transportation costs |
| Bauchi | ₦23,470 | ₦31,650 | +34.9% | Weak supply chains, regional security challenges, rising transport costs, and climate challenges, including droughts. |
| Abuja | Wuse II: ₦28,300 Nyanya: ₦25,920 |
Wuse II: ₦30,500 Nyanya: ₦27,900 |
|
Fuel-driven transport costs, climate-related harvest variability, and insecurity in food-producing zones |
Note: Port Harcourt now ranks the most expensive city for cooking jollof rice.
The report highlighted rising prices for key ingredients such as pepper, onions, turkey, beef, and rice, while other items remain high.
“Protein, in particular, remains a major contributor to the overall cost, with turkey now costing between N8,000 and N10,500 per kilo, a substantial increase from the N1,500 to N1,700 it cost in 2016.”
Urban centres like Lagos and Abuja face rising food prices due to increased demand and logistics costs.
In rural areas, insecurity and poor infrastructure hinder food distribution, leading to higher prices.
Causes of Rising Food Prices Highlighted by Jollof Index
Across Nigeria, several factors contribute to the high cost of food.
In Nigeria, insecurity is a major issue driven by banditry, kidnapping, and violence, particularly affecting farmers in the Middle Belt and North. Large areas of farmland have become no-go zones for farmers, disrupting agricultural production and increasing food prices.
Furthermore, logistical constraints, such as high fuel prices (970 per litre) and road infrastructure, push food prices higher.
Traders have also faced accusations of hoarding food stuff, which has led to price surges.
Government programs like the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme have had limited impact on food production due to loan defaults, corruption, and inefficiency.
President Tinubu’s removal of fuel subsidies led to a sharp surge in petrol and diesel prices. As transportation costs surged, so did the price of food, particularly in regions far from food-producing zones.
Without urgent reforms, SBM Intelligence warns that 52.7 million people in West Africa could face acute hunger by mid-2025. The situation is particularly challenging in Nigeria’s Northeast and South-South regions, where conflict and climate shocks have led to greater price increases than in other geopolitical zones. The dire situation has led to various stampedes at food distribution events, resulting in several fatalities.