The food-cost landscape in Lagos remains challenging for many households, but findings from the November 2025 Nairametrics Lagos Market Survey indicate a cautiously improving environment. While consumers finally saw meaningful relief in several staple food categories, fresh price increases in essentials such as onions, fish, pasta, and flour reveal that food affordability remains fragile and uneven across markets.
The survey, which covered four major Lagos markets—Mushin, Mile 2, Daleko and Oyingbo—highlights a month defined by both easing pressures and emerging new cost drivers. Many items that surged in October have now retreated on the back of seasonal harvests, increased supply flows and stabilizing distribution channels. However, persistent volatility in logistics, rising transport fares, and the seasonal nature of some food items continue to influence market pricing.
These developments occurred as Nigeria’s food inflation eased for the second consecutive month, dropping from 16.87% in September to 13.12% in October 2025. Lagos food inflation followed a similar pattern, declining sharply from 21.2% to 14.76%. Despite this positive macro trend, the market-level data shows that some household essentials remain under pressure.
Items That Recorded Price Increases
Despite the broader market cooldown, several key staples saw notable price hikes in November:
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Dry onions recorded the biggest upward movement. The average price of a bag jumped by 28.57%, rising from N70,000 to N90,000, driven by lower-than-expected harvest volumes and higher transportation costs.
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Fish prices also continued their upward trajectory.
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A kilo of kote (horse mackerel) rose from N3,800 to N4,500, an 18.42% increase.
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Titus fish climbed from N6,500 to N7,000, up 7.69%.
Cold-chain gaps, logistics expenses, and reduced catch volumes remain key drivers.
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Pasta prices increased as a 500g pack of Bonita climbed from N1,200 to N1,400, marking a 16.67% rise.
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Flour experienced broad price increases across major brands, with a 50kg bag rising by between 2.67% and 13.33%, depending on the brand. Millers continue to adjust prices in response to elevated wheat importation costs.
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Other noticeable increases included Ovaltine refill, Milo refill, sweet potatoes, eggs, and Mama Gold rice.
These developments highlight the reality that while raw staples may respond quickly to supply relief, processed and packaged foods remain vulnerable to cost-intensive supply chains.
Items That Became Cheaper
Encouragingly, more than 27 out of the 70 items tracked recorded price declines—the most positive shift seen in months.
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Pepper topped the list with a steep 20% drop as a big bag fell from N75,000 to N60,000.
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White maize fell by 18.18% to N45,000, while yellow maize dropped by 16.67% to N50,000, both benefiting from harvest-season supply boosts.
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Vegetable oil and palm oil saw significant declines, dropping by 17.86% and 10% respectively.
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Peak milk (900g) dropped sharply by 17.74% to N9,460.
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Yam prices eased substantially, with large Abuja tubers down 16.67%.
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Yellow garri recorded a 14.81% drop to N23,000 for a 50kg sack.
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Cooking gas reversed last month’s spike, with a 12.5kg cylinder dropping by 13.33% to N16,250.
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Frozen poultry—turkey and chicken lap—also became cheaper.
Other items that recorded declines include noodles, poundo yam, and melon.
Items With Stable Prices
Around 26 food items recorded no price changes in November, including semo, tomatoes, tea, wheat, ogbono, and certain noodle brands. This suggests a degree of stabilization in specific market segments.
Market Voices: Insights From Traders
Local traders across the surveyed markets provided context to the numbers:
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“Onions didn’t turn out as cheap as we expected… transport and supply issues are the problem,” said Mrs. Ebere, a vegetable seller in Daleko.
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Bakers remain troubled by flour increases, with many adjusting loaf sizes, according to Mushin retailer Mrs. Grace.
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Yam sellers and garri wholesalers expressed cautious optimism but noted that consumers are still buying in smaller quantities due to limited purchasing power.
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Food vendors welcomed the drop in gas and poultry prices, calling it a relief for daily operations.
Overall, the November 2025 survey paints a nuanced picture: while more than one-third of tracked food items became cheaper and inflation indicators improved, the cost of key essentials—especially onions, fish and flour—continues to pressure household budgets. The market remains highly sensitive to supply chain disruptions, seasonal harvests, and logistics challenges. Continuous monitoring will be crucial as Lagos families enter the festive season, a period historically known for fluctuating food prices.
