Our Correspondent | Agriculture
Nigeria’s food import bill surged by 25 per cent to ₦1.1tn in the third quarter of 2025, even as food prices continued to ease nationwide, raising fresh concerns about the sustainability of local agriculture and the pressures facing domestic farmers.
Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) show that agricultural goods imports rose to ₦1.1tn in Q3 2025, up from ₦882.24bn in the same period of 2024. The increase comes amid sustained government efforts to moderate food inflation and ease the cost-of-living crisis through higher food supply, largely driven by imports.
While the strategy has helped push prices down ahead of the Christmas season, analysts and farmer groups warn that it is squeezing local producers, many of whom are struggling to recover rising production costs.
The NBS October 2025 Selected Food Price Watch Report indicates broad-based declines across key staples. The average price of 1kg of local rice fell to ₦1,913.78 in October 2025, representing a 2.01 per cent year-on-year decline from ₦1,944.64 in October 2024, and a 1.59 per cent drop compared to September 2025.
Beans Brown (1kg) recorded an even sharper decline, selling at an average of ₦1,760.53 in October 2025—down 37.09 per cent year-on-year from ₦2,798.50 in October 2024, and 3.04 per cent lower than the September 2025 price.
Similarly, the average price of Garri White (1kg) dropped by 29.33 per cent year-on-year, falling from ₦1,198.05 in October 2024 to ₦846.69 in October 2025. On a month-on-month basis, the price declined by 2.88 per cent. Tomato prices also moderated, with the average price of 1kg sold loose declining by 13.43 per cent year-on-year to ₦1,269.17, and slipping 0.83 per cent month-on-month.
State-level data highlight significant regional price variations. Ogun State recorded the highest average price for local rice at ₦2,163.23 per kilogramme, while Yobe posted the lowest at ₦1,523.47. For beans, Imo State had the highest average price at ₦2,174.09 per kilogramme, with Yobe again recording the lowest at ₦1,263.68.
Economists note that while recent government reform programmes and seasonal harvests have contributed to easing food prices, weak consumer purchasing power is also playing a significant role. They argue that inflationary pressures such as insecurity, exchange rate volatility, high energy costs and poor infrastructure remain largely unresolved.
“Prices are coming down, but not necessarily because fundamentals have improved,” an analyst said. “Demand is weak, and households are adjusting consumption because incomes have not kept pace with costs.”
For farmers, the influx of imported food has deepened market competition, often forcing them to sell produce at prices below production costs. Agricultural stakeholders warn that continued reliance on imports to stabilise prices could undermine domestic production, discourage investment and weaken food security in the medium term.
As food prices ease heading into the festive season, policymakers face a delicate balance: protecting consumers from inflation while ensuring that local farmers remain profitable and productive in an economy still grappling with structural challenges.