Adamawa tops list as Nigeria's most affordable food state in May 2026 amid easing inflation

Adamawa emerged as Nigeria's most affordable state for food in May 2026 after recording the lowest prices for six key commodities out of 38 tracked by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) Selected Food Prices report. The state dominated with exceptionally low prices for white maize (N400/kg vs national average N815.83), broken local rice, groundnut oil, ripe plantain, chicken wings, and frozen Titus fish.

The ranking reflects everyday household spending, giving greater weight to commonly consumed staples like rice, beans, garri, and vegetable oil. Northern states dominated the top 10, with Taraba, Plateau, Yobe, Ekiti, Bauchi, Jigawa, Sokoto, Abia, and Nasarawa completing the list. This reflects lower farm-gate costs, shorter supply chains, and greater agricultural production in northern regions.

While food inflation has eased considerably, protein and fresh produce remain under pressure. Frozen Titus fish rose 27.4% annually, and brown beans fell 43.6%—the largest decline. Southern states appeared less frequently among the cheapest markets due to higher transportation costs and urban demand pressures.

The data suggests households could save significantly by sourcing staples from these affordable markets. Does understanding regional price differences influence where you shop for your family's food?

SOURCE: https://nairametrics.com/2026/06/28/nbs-data-10-most-affordable-states-for-food-items-in-nigeria/