December 2025 has delivered a well-known however putting story for Lagos households; the festive season demand has collided with tightening provide, pushing costs of most meals gadgets sharply larger throughout main markets.
In comparison with November, worth actions in December have been overwhelmingly upward, reflecting elevated family consumption, larger logistics prices, and dealer hypothesis typical of the end-of-year interval.
Primarily based on the newest Lagos market survey, out of the 70 tracked meals gadgets, 49 elevated, 18 declined, and 3 have been flat in December towards November 2025, that means 69.0% of things rose, 25.4% fell, and 5.6% have been unchanged.
The breadth of worth will increase means that the modest reduction seen in November has largely evaporated, reinforcing how fragile meals affordability stays for city shoppers.
The December market survey, carried out throughout 4 main markets—Mushin, Mile 2, Daleko, and Oyingbo market affirm that seasonality stays a robust inflation driver in Lagos, usually overriding broader macro enhancements equivalent to harvest inflows or momentary gasoline worth reduction.
Based on the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Nigeria’s headline and meals inflation moderated to 14.45% year-onyear (YoY) and 11.08% (YoY) in November 2025, respectively, whereas Lagos meals inflation eased to 13.6% (YoY) from 14.76% (YoY), reflecting broad market moderation.
Nevertheless, this ease might not replicate in December as costs of things as noticed within the December survey are pushed by renewed will increase in recent meals, tubers, and protein gadgets.
Gadgets that elevated in worth
Worth will increase in December have been broad-based, slicing throughout recent produce, staples, proteins, oils, and processed meals, equivalent to:
- A giant bag of Pepper jumped from N60,000 to N85,000, reflecting a large improve of 41.67% which a medium bag rose by 38.89% to N50,000 from N36,000 in the month of December.
- A 50kg bag of brown beans reversed the 14.81% decline within the earlier month, to now promote at a mean of N120,000 from N90,000, reflecting a 33.33% improve.
- Likewise, a basket of round-shaped tomatoes climbed from N40,000 to N52,000, a 30.00% surge in worth.
- A 50kg bag of white garri is bought for N30,000 in December, from N24,000 it bought for in November, reflecting a 25.00% improve.
- Equally, the value of a big-size Abuja yam rose by 20%, averaging N6,000, although the large sizes differ in size and weight, whereas a medium-size Abuja yam rose from M3,500 to N4,500 (+28.60%).
- Carton of turkey and hen lap rose by 16.44% and 14.58%, promoting at N85,000 and N55,000 respectively from the earlier costs of N73,000 and N48,000.
- A kilo of Titus (mackerel) fish additional elevated by 14.29% from N7,000 to N8,000.
Different notable will increase:
- Ayoola Poundo yam flour: up 13.33%, from N3,750 to N4,250
- Native vegetable oil (25litres): up 13.04%, from N57,500 to N65,000
- A crate of egg: up 1.82%, from N5,500 to N5,600
- Dry onions (large bag): up 11.11% from N90,000 to N100,000
- Honeywell wheat (1kg): up 11.11% from N1,350 to N1,500
Merchants attribute the surge to lowered inflows from the North, spoilage dangers throughout transportation, and heavy festive shopping for by households and meals distributors.
Fish sellers report that cold-chain prices and weaker provide from coastal hubs compounded festive demand.
The will increase in oils, flours and processed staples level to continued enter value pass-through, together with packaging, transportation, and financing prices.
Gadgets that lowered in worth
Regardless of the festive inflation wave, in line with our survey, 18 gadgets recorded worth declines, principally amongst processed items and chosen staples:
- Bush mango seed (ogbono) recorded a sharp decline of 14.29% from N350,000 to N300,000.
- In contrast to the white garri, the 50kg bag of yellow garri fell by 13.04% from N23,000 to N20,000.
- Cocoa drinks equivalent to Ovaltine, Milo, Bournvita recorded delicate declines between 7.14% to 2.91%
- Likewise, main flour manufacturers (Honeywell, Dangote, Golden Penny) recorded declines between 6.25% to 2.74%.
- Moreover, an enormous bag of Egusi (melon) eased by 4% from N250,000 to N240,000.
Notably, costs of noodles and tea additionally recorded marginal worth reductions
Nevertheless, a small group of things (about 4 in whole) confirmed minimal or no motion, primarily area of interest processed merchandise the place pricing is tightly managed by producers and demand elasticity is proscribed, equivalent to a basket of potatoes, a bag of white and oloyin beans, and so on.
Market reactions: how consumers and sellers are coping
For a lot of Lagos residents, December procuring has turn into an train in prioritization somewhat than abundance.
- Mrs. Zainab – pepper vendor, Mile 12
“As soon as December begins, pepper turns into gold,” “Northern vehicles are fewer, and drivers are charging extra for gasoline and journeys. Pepper jumped to N85,000 per large bag; if provide improves after Christmas, it ought to settle down.”
- Mrs. Emmanuel OnaAra – frozen meals retailer, Daleko
“Hen lap and turkey cartons moved quick. Feed continues to be costly, diesel for chilly rooms too.”
- Mrs. Kemi Adebayo – provisions retailer in Mushin
“Some firms lowered costs to draw Christmas consumers,”“However foodstuffs that folks prepare dinner recent are those costly now.”
- Alhaji Musa Abdullahi – tuber wholesaler in Mile 2 market
“Individuals who postponed shopping for yam in November rushed again in December,” “That sudden demand pushed costs up rapidly.”
- ThankGod – grain vendor in Oyingbo
“There are kinds of ogbono out there starting from Nsukka to Cameroun and Benue ogbono, which is mirrored of their worth distinction. As an example, an enormous bag of Nsukka ogbono prices N330,000 due to its dietary worth, whereas the common Cameroun is promoting for N300,000.” “It’s best to know what you might be shopping for to keep away from shopping for the mistaken one for a excessive value.”
- Some sellers additionally admit to cost hoarding, holding again inventory in anticipation of additional will increase nearer to Christmas and New 12 months.
In regards to the Nairametrics Meals Worth Survey
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 supplies up-to-date insights into meals worth tendencies, serving to companies, policymakers, and shoppers make knowledgeable selections.
