📌 Quick answer (October 2026): Rice prices in Nigeria are falling as the new harvest reaches the markets. In Lagos, the State Government’s price tracker puts a 50kg bag of imported long-grain rice at ₦53,000 and short-grain at ₦51,000. Brands such as Elephant Gold, Three Brothers and African Choice sell for about ₦54,000–₦55,000, while premium Cap Rice costs ₦70,000–₦77,000. Plain agric rice has dropped from ₦60,000–₦65,000 in July–September to about ₦55,000, and the tracker’s imported long-grain price is down from about ₦61,000 in April, though some brands have gone up.
Rice Price in Nigeria Today: Summary
Rice 50kg bag Change Trend Imported long grain ₦53,000Down 13%since Apr 2026 Down 13%since Apr 2026 Imported short grain ₦51,000 First check Plain Nigerian rice ₦54,000 – ₦55,000 First check Agric rice About ₦55,000Down 12%since Sep 2026 Down 12%since Sep 2026 Big Bull, My Choice, Mr Rice ₦58,000 – ₦60,000 First check BHOG, Yummy Gold ₦61,000 – ₦62,000 First check Cap Rice ₦70,000 – ₦77,000 First check
A 25kg bag usually costs about half the 50kg price: about ₦25,500–₦26,500 for imported rice on the Lagos tracker and ₦27,000–₦31,000 for most brands.
Lagos tracker prices are from the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems’ October 2026 food price tracker. Brand prices are from a News Agency of Nigeria market survey in Lagos markets in October 2026. 25kg prices for brands are estimated at half the 50kg price. Retail shops usually charge a little more than market prices.
Rice Prices by Brand (October 2026)
| Brand | 50kg price now | Earlier price | Direction |
| Agric rice, People’s Choice | About ₦55,000 | ₦60,000 – ₦65,000 (July–September) | ⬇ Down |
| Elephant Gold, Three Brothers, African Choice, other Nigerian rice | ₦54,000 – ₦55,000 | About ₦48,000 | ⬆ Up |
| Big Bull | ₦58,000 | About ₦55,000 (August) | ⬆ Up |
| My Choice, Mr Rice | About ₦60,000 | About ₦53,000 | ⬆ Up |
| BHOG, Yummy Gold | ₦61,000 – ₦62,000 | ₦56,000 – ₦57,000 | ⬆ Up |
| Cap Rice | ₦70,000 – ₦77,000 | ₦60,000 – ₦65,000 | ⬆ Up (supply is tight) |
The market is split. Unbranded and agric rice has fallen as newly harvested rice arrives, but several branded bags have gone up, and Cap Rice has jumped because it is scarce. If you are not tied to a brand, the cheapest bags right now are imported rice at the Lagos tracker price and plain Nigerian or agric rice.
Buying in small quantities? In Lagos markets, rice sold by the derica (a small cup measure) has dropped from ₦1,300–₦1,500 to about ₦1,000–₦1,100.
Why Rice Prices Are Falling Now
- The new harvest. Nigeria’s main rice harvest starts around September and October. Traders say fresh paddy reaching the mills has increased supply.
- Imports. More rice coming in, including across land borders, has added supply and pulled imported rice prices down.
- A steadier naira. Imported rice and the inputs local mills use are paid for in dollars, so a more stable exchange rate in 2026 has helped.
Prices usually stay lowest from October to January while harvest stock is plentiful, then climb from around February as stocks run down. If you have the cash and dry storage, this is the best time of year to buy.
Why Some Rice Brands Are Still Going Up
- Brand scarcity. Cap Rice has risen because there is less of it in the market, and traders say supply of some other branded bags has tightened while demand for them has risen.
- Transport and handling costs. Moving bags from northern mills and the ports to southern markets still costs a lot in diesel and road charges.
Local vs Foreign Rice: Which Is Better Value?
| Factor | Nigerian (local) rice | Imported rice |
| Price per 50kg (October 2026) | About ₦54,000 – ₦55,000 for plain Nigerian and agric rice | From ₦51,000 (Lagos tracker) to ₦77,000 for premium brands |
| Cleaning | Better brands are destoned; cheaper bags may need picking | Usually clean |
| Cooking | Often needs parboiling or a little more water | Cooks quickly and evenly |
| Grain consistency | Varies by mill and batch | More uniform |
| Best for | Everyday white rice, rice and stew, rice and beans | Party jollof and fried rice where uniform grains matter |
Our view: right now imported and good local rice cost about the same in Lagos, so buy on quality. Open a bag before you pay if you can, look for stones and broken grains, and smell for staleness.
How to Buy Rice Cheaper
- Buy now, during the harvest season. Prices are falling and tend to stay low until January.
- Buy at wholesale markets. Markets such as Daleko in Lagos, Bodija in Ibadan and Dawanau in Kano, one of West Africa’s biggest grain markets, usually beat neighbourhood shops by a few thousand naira per bag.
- Share bags. Splitting a 50kg bag with family or colleagues gets you the bag price instead of the higher derica or paint price.
- Be flexible on brand. The gap between plain Nigerian rice and Cap Rice is now ₦15,000–₦22,000 per bag.
- Compare against the Lagos tracker. If you are in Lagos, a quote far above the State Government tracker price means you are paying a shop premium.
- Store it well. Keep bags off the floor, in a dry, cool place away from rodents. Loss to weevils and damp wipes out any saving from bulk buying.
How Rice Prices Have Changed
| Period | Typical 50kg bag (Lagos markets) |
| 2024 peak | Above ₦70,000 for most brands |
| April 2026 | About ₦61,000 for imported long grain |
| July – September 2026 | About ₦60,000 – ₦65,000 for agric rice |
| October 2026 | ₦51,000 – ₦55,000 for imported and plain local rice; up to ₦77,000 for premium brands |
The 2024 peak followed the naira’s sharp fall and the removal of the petrol subsidy, which pushed Nigeria’s food inflation above 40% in mid-2024. Prices have eased since, but a bag still costs far more than it did before 2023.
Cooking Tips for Nigerian Local Rice
- Pick and wash. Remove stones, then wash two or three times until the water runs mostly clear. This removes dust and excess starch that make rice sticky.
- Parboil cheaper local rice. Boil for five to eight minutes, drain and rinse. The grains cook more evenly and stick less.
- Get the water right. As a starting point, use about 1½ cups of water per cup of polished or imported rice, and about 2 cups for harder local rice.
- Cook covered on low heat once the pot boils, so the rice steams evenly.
Cheaper Alternatives When Rice Is Expensive
Garri remains the cheapest staple. The Lagos tracker puts a paint bucket of Ijebu garri at about ₦1,100 and white or yellow garri at about ₦1,200 in October 2026. Beans, which are rich in protein, stretch a rice meal further. See our garri price guide and beans price guide for the latest national figures.
Selling Rice: What the Numbers Look Like
Many people checking rice prices are thinking of selling it. The basic model is simple: buy bags at wholesale and sell by the bag, half bag, paint or derica. For example, a bag bought for ₦55,000 and sold by the derica at ₦1,000–₦1,100 can earn a better margin than reselling the whole bag, because a 50kg bag holds well over 100 dericas. The real risks are slow sales, weevils and damp storage, and prices falling after you stock up. Buy in quantities you can sell within a few weeks, especially when prices are dropping as they are now.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a bag of rice in Nigeria today?
In October 2026, a 50kg bag of imported rice costs about ₦51,000–₦53,000 on the Lagos State price tracker. Common Nigerian brands sell for about ₦54,000–₦62,000, and premium Cap Rice for ₦70,000–₦77,000.
Is the price of rice coming down in Nigeria?
Yes for plain and agric rice. Prices fell from ₦60,000–₦65,000 in July–September to about ₦55,000 in October as the harvest arrived. Some popular brands have gone up, so check the price of the brand you buy.
How much is a 25kg bag of rice?
About ₦25,500–₦26,500 for imported rice on the Lagos tracker, and roughly half the 50kg price for most brands.
How much is Cap Rice now?
About ₦70,000–₦77,000 for 50kg in Lagos markets in October 2026, up from ₦60,000–₦65,000 because supply is short.
What is the cheapest rice in Nigeria now?
Imported short-grain rice at about ₦51,000 per 50kg on the Lagos tracker, and plain Nigerian or agric rice at about ₦54,000–₦55,000.
When is the best time to buy rice in Nigeria?
From October to January, when harvest supply is plentiful and prices are usually at their lowest.
Sources
- Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems: Lagos Food Price Tracker, October 2026.
- News Agency of Nigeria: market survey of rice prices in Lagos markets, October 2026.
Last updated: 12 October 2026 · NaijaSabi Finance Desk. Prices vary by market and change often. We update this page as new figures come out.
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