By Chinwendu Obienyi
The cost of cooking a pot of jollof rice in Nigeria has soared to an average of N24,671 (about $15.42), making it increasingly unaffordable for millions of households already grappling with rising inflation and economic hardship.
The figure, released by SBM Intelligence in its latest Jollof Index report, titled; Staple under Stress, underscores the severity of West Africa’s escalating food crisis.
SBM Intelligence is an Africa-focused geopolitical research and strategic communications consulting firm that addresses the critical need for political, social, economic, and market data and big data analytics.
Once a staple at family gatherings and cultural celebrations, jollof rice has become a symbol of deeper economic distress in the region. The report reveals that the cost of ingredients rose by 19 per cent between September 2024 and March 2025, driven largely by currency depreciation, supply chain disruptions, and worsening insecurity in food-producing areas.
“The Northeast and South-South regions, particularly markets like Bauchi and Port Harcourt, experienced the sharpest increases, exacerbating food insecurity for vulnerable populations.
In real terms, prices increased by 22.1 per cent using Nigeria’s official exchange rate and 26.4 per cent based on black market figures. The average cost now sits at about N25,000 per pot, up from approximately N21,000 just six months ago”, the report stated.
While Nigeria is at the heart of this crisis, the problem spans the region. In neighbouring Ghana, the cost of preparing jollof rice is now nearly N45,000 ($27.55)—78.7 percent higher than Nigeria’s average using official exchange rates (N1,600/$1).
Hence, SBM Intelligence warns that 52.7 million people across West Africa could face acute hunger by mid-2025 if urgent reforms are not implemented. The situation is particularly dire in Nigeria’s Northeast and South-South regions, where conflict and climate shocks have caused steeper price increases than in other parts of the country.
Inflation continues to outpace wages in both Nigeria and Ghana, reaching 24.23 per cent and 22.4 per cent, respectively, in the first quarter of 2025. In Nigeria, armed banditry, flooding, and declining farm output have disrupted local food production and logistics, forcing households to rely on more expensive imported alternatives.
The report noted that while short-term measures like Nigeria’s subsidised rice scheme and Ghana’s Planting for Food and Jobs initiative provide some relief, their reach remains inadequate. In Nigeria, traders have also faced accusations of price gouging, further complicating efforts to stabilise costs.
This situation leaves households relying on coping mechanisms such as reducing meal sizes and bulk purchasing to manage expenses. “The interventions we are seeing are piecemeal, said Bolaji Adebayo, a Lagos-based agricultural economist. We need sustained investment in farming, mechanisation, and regional food reserves to break this cycle.”
Calling for coordinated action, SBM Intelligence urged policymakers, regional bodies, and international partners to act decisively to transform West Africa’s food systems, ensuring long-term sustainability and sovereignty.
They added that their work must include a focus on bolstering food sovereignty, stabilising currencies, and strengthening supply chains.
“The time for decisive action is now; to address this crisis, immediate steps should include scaling up targeted food aid and enforcing measures against price fixing cartels. Long-term solutions require mechanising farming practices, resolving conflicts that disrupt agricultural production, land reform and establishing regional food reserves. The Jollof Index serves as both a warning and a call to action: the region’s future depends on its ability to feed its people today”, the report stated.