Average cost preparing pot of jollof rice hits N21,579, 31% of minimum wage in September 

The average cost of preparing a pot of jollof rice in Nigeria has risen to N21,579, consuming roughly 31% of the country’s minimum wage (N70,000) in September.

This is according to a new report from SBM Intelligence titled The SBM Jollof Index: Crisis on the Menu, which was seen by Nairametrics on Thursday.

According to the report, the average cost of preparing a pot of jollof rice in Nigeria rose by 5.1% from N20,274 in June.

This rise underscores the intensifying food crisis in Nigeria, where inflation and rising food costs continue to strain households.

The report read: “The average cost of cooking a pot of jollof rice in Nigeria rose from N20,274 in June to N21,300 in September, reflecting a 5.1% increase. The prices of key ingredients such as tomatoes and peppers, remained high in July, although the Index recorded only a minor reduction of N200. 

“Our previous Index highlighted how the prices of ingredients like tomatoes and peppers had surged by over 300% in June, and this only slightly relieved in July. By August, the national average cost of making a pot of jollof rice rose by an additional N390 and increased further by N1,181 in September” 

Food prices gulp up to 97% of monthly incomes

The report further noted that for many Nigerians, food prices consume between 65% to 97% of monthly incomes, far higher than the 11-12% typical in countries like the U.S. and the U.K.

It noted that this has led to public unrest, evidenced by a hunger protest where citizens expressed frustration over the soaring cost of living.

• The report attributes these price surges to multiple factors, including insecurity, high energy costs, and natural disasters.
• Fuel prices, for instance, rose from N830 in August to N1,030 in September, driving up transport and food storage expenses. Similarly, the cost of cooking gas surged from around N14,200 in July to N16,500 by September.
• Also, the collapse of the Alan Dam in Borno in July resulted in severe flooding across 29 states, affecting millions and exacerbating agricultural losses, which impacted food availability and prices.
• In terms of market trends, while Onitsha and Kano markets saw price declines of up to 13.2% and 3.5%, respectively, Abuja’s Nyanya Market recorded a sharp 29.5% increase due to supply chain disruptions and rising transport costs.

SBM Intelligence notes that despite temporary reductions in some ingredient costs, like tomatoes and peppers, the price of staple items remains largely out of reach for many households.

Ghana’s experience mirrors Nigeria’s in several ways, with food inflation moderating slightly to 19.1% in August before climbing again to 21.5% in September.

This volatility highlights a wider trend across West Africa, where inflationary pressures, currency depreciation, and high import costs continue to impact food security.

SBM Intelligence stresses that without significant policy intervention and structural adjustments to food systems, West African nations are likely to see prolonged instability in food affordability and availability.

What you should know 

Nigeria’s headline inflation rate in September 2024 rose to 32.70%, up from 32.15% in August 2024.

• This was according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) Consumer Price Index (CPI) report, which stated that increases in transportation costs and food prices propelled inflation during the month.
• On a year-on-year basis, the rate was 5.98%-points higher than the 26.72% recorded in September 2023, indicating a significant increase in inflation over the past year.
• Also, on a month-on-month basis, the headline inflation rate in September 2024 was 2.52%, 0.30% higher than the 2.22% recorded in August 2024. This indicates that the average price level increased at a faster rate in September compared to August 2024.
• The food inflation rate in September 2024 was 37.77% year-on-year, marking an increase of 7.13 percentage points from the 30.64% recorded in September 2023.

On a month-on-month basis, the food inflation rate in September 2024 stood at 2.64%, reflecting a 0.27% rise compared to the 2.37% recorded in August 2024.