Meals costs throughout Lagos markets eased in January 2026, reversing a lot of the festive-driven surge seen in December, though value pressures stay seen in key protein and processed meals classes.
That is based on the January Lagos Meals Market Survey carried out by the Nairametrics Analysis Crew throughout Mushin, Daleko, Mile 12, and Oyingbo markets.
Whereas improved provide situations and softer post-holiday demand helped drive broad worth corrections, rising logistics, vitality, and import-linked prices continued to push up costs for choose meals gadgets.
The survey exhibits that on a regular basis meals inflation dynamics in Lagos have gotten more and more combined, with welcome reduction in perishables like pepper and tomatoes, however persistent pressure on family budgets from fish, vegetable oil, and packaged drinks.
The January 2026 Lagos meals market survey exhibits a broad-based decline in meals costs in comparison with December 2025, signaling a post-festive correction throughout main markets.
Out of the 68 meals gadgets tracked, the bulk recorded worth drops, reflecting improved provide flows and normalization of demand after the vacations.
Meals costs in Lagos surged in December 2025 as vacation demand, logistics bottlenecks, and seasonal provide constraints mixed to push market costs increased.
This seasonal spike is a recurring characteristic of Nigeria’s meals economic system, notably for perishables and festive-linked consumption gadgets.
Nevertheless, structural value drivers resembling diesel costs, cold-chain logistics, and import-dependent inputs proceed to restrict how far costs can fall.
Whereas sector-wide inflation eased, 15 meals gadgets in Lagos posted notable will increase in January 2026, with customers in Mushin, Mile 12, Daleko, and Oyingbo feeling the pinch on a number of fronts:
Different staple costs that climbed embrace:
Merchants attribute the surge in PowerOil to rising prices of repackaging and transport after the vacations, whereas processed cocoa drinks rose as a result of promotional reductions ended after seasonal gross sales.
Fish sellers report that cold-chain diesel, decrease catches and import publicity contributed to the rise within the worth of proteins.
January introduced broad worth reductions throughout 49 gadgets, largely pushed by post-holiday provide normalization, improved haulage from manufacturing zones, and seasonal harvest inflows. For a lot of Lagos residents, this introduced welcome reduction.
Different notable declines are:
Different staples like bush mango (ogbono), mamador vegetable oil, brief grain rice (Royal Stallion), and many others., additionally softened by double digits as rural provide chains stabilized and demand from festive internet hosting abated.
General, merchants reported that wholesale competitors in early 2026 has returned to pre-holiday norms, permitting these worth corrections.
A small however noticeable group of about 4 gadgets remained just about unchanged from December into January, starting from minimie noodles, titus (mackerel) fish, Lipton Yellow Label tea and a bi-size tuber of Abuja yam, whose provide contracts and retail pricing are much less delicate to short-term seasonal swings.
Mrs. Lolade – frozen meals vendor, Daleko
Mr. Chijioke, a grain dealer, Mushin
Ms. Cynthia – groceries dealer, Oyingbo
Mrs. Binta Suleiman – meals vendor, Mile 12
Mrs. Aisha, a mom of three in Mushin, had combined emotions concerning the worth motion.
The Nairametrics Meals Worth Watch is a month-to-month market survey monitoring the costs of main meals gadgets throughout Nigeria.
This report particularly covers 4 key markets in Lagos State: Mushin Market, Daleko Market, Oyingbo Market, and Mile 12 Market.
The survey offers up-to-date insights into meals worth tendencies, serving to companies, policymakers, and customers make knowledgeable choices.
