When FoodPrices Nigeria completed its inaugural price capture at Ipaja Market on March 25, 2026, the most analytically significant finding was not the maize surge or the beans softening — it was the specialty grains shelf. Five commodity varieties tracked at Ipaja — Dry Cassava, Plantain Flour, Wheat, Oat, and Rice (Poundo) — appear in none of the eight other Lagos markets currently monitored by FoodPrices Nigeria. Ipaja Market is currently the only verified price source for these commodities in the platform's Lagos network.
This is not a coincidence. It reflects the demographic composition of Alimosho — one of Nigeria's most densely populated local government areas, serving a population drawn from every geopolitical zone, with dietary cultures spanning southwestern pounded yam traditions, southeastern cassava-based staples, northern grain diets, and the health-conscious urban middle class. The full specialty grains shelf at Ipaja is a price barometer for a Lagos demographic that mainstream market surveys largely miss.
Dry Cassava: The Most Affordable Starchy Base in the Market
Dry Cassava at Ipaja Market is priced at ₦16,000 per 50kg bag, ₦8,000 per 25kg bag, ₦1,500 per paint bucket, and ₦400 per derica — the most affordable starchy base tracked at Ipaja Market today. At ₦400 per derica, a family buying three dericas weekly spends just ₦1,200 on their starchy base — approximately one-third the cost of the equivalent volume of rice.
BusinessDay has reported that High-Quality Cassava Flour presents substantial import substitution potential in Nigeria, given that the country imports approximately 98% of its wheat consumption — valued at around $2 billion annually — while existing cassava processing facilities remain underutilised by approximately 50%. Businessday NG The ₦16,000 dry cassava bag at Ipaja is the raw market signal of this broader structural reality. The Nigeria Cassava Market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.7% from 2026 to 2032, driven by government focus on the cassava bioethanol value chain and rising global preference for gluten-free ingredients. 6Wresearch
Plantain Flour: ₦24,000 Per Bag, ₦6,000 Per Paint
Plantain Flour at Ipaja Market is priced at ₦24,000 per 50kg bag, ₦12,000 per 25kg bag, ₦6,000 per paint, and ₦1,200 per derica. Plantain flour — made from unripe dried plantain — is used primarily as a pounded yam substitute and is particularly valued by older consumers and people managing blood sugar. Ayoola Foods, one of Nigeria's leading plantain flour producers, announced plans for a nationwide brand activation in early 2026 to expand market reach, with its Managing Director citing growing demand even amid weakened purchasing power. Church Times Nigeria Industry analysts note that investors are setting up mini-processing plants to produce plantain flour as a gluten-free alternative, with demand growing across Nigerian cities and African diaspora communities. Wetin dey Global
Wheat: ₦25,000 Per 50kg Bag
Wheat at Ipaja Market is priced at ₦25,000 per 50kg bag, ₦12,500 per 25kg bag, ₦2,000 per paint, and ₦500 per derica. Wheat at ₦25,000 per bag is priced at a ₦9,000 premium over Dry Cassava per equivalent bag weight — a differential that explains why cassava-based substitutes continue to gain ground among cost-conscious urban households.
Oat: ₦55,000 Per 50kg Bag
Oat at Ipaja Market is the most expensive specialty grain tracked — ₦55,000 per 50kg bag, ₦27,500 per 25kg, and ₦5,500 per paint. At ₦1,000 per derica, oat is affordable for daily retail purchase, but its bag price places it well above all other grains including imported rice. The presence of oat in an open-air Lagos market — rather than a supermarket — confirms that demand for this commodity has moved meaningfully beyond the premium retail segment.
Rice (Poundo): ₦65,000 Per Bag — Premium for Texture
Rice (Poundo) at Ipaja Market is the priciest specialty grain item at ₦65,000 per 50kg bag, ₦32,500 per 25kg, and ₦6,000 per paint. The ₦9,000 premium over regular short-grain imported rice at Ipaja (₦56,000) reflects specific texture processing and the smaller market scale. At ₦6,000 per paint, it matches Plantain Flour exactly — positioning both as premium pounded yam alternatives at the same retail price point.
What the Specialty Grains Shelf Tells Us
The five specialty grains at Ipaja Market collectively cover a price range from ₦400 per derica (Dry Cassava) to ₦1,000 per derica (Oat) — a 150% spread within a single commodity category. They serve different dietary drivers: affordability (Dry Cassava), health (Plantain Flour, Oat), convenience (Rice Poundo), and baking (Wheat). The fact that all five are traded openly at a mainstream Lagos market rather than a specialty store signals that Alimosho's food market has already diversified significantly beyond the standard rice-beans-garri trinity.
Live specialty grain prices: foodprices.ng/real-time-prices/?market=Ipaja+Market&category=Grains