- Nigerian households face tough financial choices as food prices surge ahead of Easter
- Staple food items like rice and chicken have seen drastic price hikes in recent weeks
- Rising transport costs and inflation force families to scale back Easter celebrations significantly
Pascal Oparada is a journalist with Legit.ng, covering technology, energy, stocks, investment, and the economy for over a decade.
What should be a joyful Easter season is fast becoming a period of tough financial choices for many Nigerian households.
A fresh market survey shows food prices rising sharply, forcing families to scale back celebrations as incomes lose value.
Credit: Novatis
Source: Twitter
Across major markets, especially in Mile 12 Market, the traditional “Easter basket” is shrinking. Essential food items have recorded steep increases within weeks, leaving many unable to plan or spend confidently.
Tomatoes, rice, and chicken record sharp hikes
The jump in staple food prices has been dramatic:
- A large basket of tomatoes now sells for about N60,000, up 46% from N41,000 in early March
- A bag of fresh pepper has surged 74% to N80,000
- A 50kg bag of rice costs around N61,000, up from N56,000 in January
- A carton of ‘orobo’ chicken has risen to N54,000 from N50,000
Even smaller purchases are affected. Frozen chicken, for instance, has climbed from N5,500 to N6,000 per kilo in just two weeks.
Families struggle to keep up
For many Nigerians, the constant price changes are exhausting. Fixed-income earners say budgeting has become nearly impossible, with prices shifting almost daily.
Traders are also feeling the impact. Shop owners report slow sales despite the festive period, as customers delay or reduce purchases. What used to be a peak buying season now feels like an ordinary weekend in many markets.
Fuel costs are driving the surge
At the heart of the increase is the rising cost of fuel. With petrol prices hovering around N1,300 per litre, transportation expenses have soared, pushing up the cost of moving food from farms to cities.
According to a report by BusinessDay, this ripple effect is worsened by global oil tensions, which have disrupted supply chains and driven crude prices higher. For traders, higher energy costs mean thinner margins, forcing them to pass the burden on to consumers.
Inflation reverses course
Earlier in the year, there were signs of relief. Data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed food inflation dropping to 8.89% in January, its lowest level in years.
But that progress has quickly reversed. By February, food inflation had climbed to 12.12%, reflecting the renewed pressure on prices.
Credit: Novatis
Source: Getty Images
A quieter Easter celebration
With transport costs rising and purchasing power weakening, many households are adjusting expectations. Celebrations are becoming more modest, and for some, Easter is now less about feasting and more about managing survival.
What was once a season of abundance is, for many Nigerians, turning into a careful exercise in restraint.
Dealers quote new prices for rice and other food items
Legit.ng earlier reported that food prices showed mixed movements across major Nigerian markets in January, with notable relief for staple grains such as rice, beans and garri, while cooking oils and processed foods continued to climb, limiting the overall impact on household food budgets.
A comparison of prices between December 2025 and early January 2026 indicates improved supply conditions across several regions.
Analysts link the moderation to peak harvest flows, higher domestic production and market adjustments following government interventions.
Source: Legit.ng
