The smallest unit of local rice was the fastest-moving price in Lagos in the week of 25 September 2026. FoodPrices Nigeria data, drawn from the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems market survey, shows a derica of Nigerian Manufactured Rice at a mean of ₦850 across six markets, up from ₦825 on 18 September. The ₦25 rise is a 3.0% increase in one week, the largest move in either direction among the 21 price lines surveyed.
Local Now Costs More Than Imported at the Cup
The move pushes the local derica above its closest imported rival. Imported Rice (Short Grain) averages ₦833 a derica across nine markets, so the local product is now ₦17, or 2.0%, more expensive in the measure most low-income households actually buy. It remains ₦56, or 6.2%, below Imported Rice (Long Grain) at ₦906.
The Bag Did Not Move
The increase is confined to the smallest unit. The 50kg bag of Nigerian Manufactured Rice held at a mean of ₦51,571 across seven markets, a 0.0% change, and the 25kg bag held at ₦25,786. The paint slipped 0.2%, from ₦4,358 to ₦4,350. A buyer with cash for a bag paid the same as last week. A buyer purchasing by the derica paid 3.0% more for the same grain. For a household that gets through 10 dericas a week, that is ₦250 added to the weekly rice bill.
Nairametrics reported in its September Lagos survey that buyers were purchasing smaller quantities as household budgets tightened. More demand concentrated in the smallest measures is consistent with a derica price that rises while the bag price stands still.
Where the Derica Is Cheapest
Mile 12 Market has the lowest derica price at ₦800 and Mushin Market the highest at ₦1,000, a 25.0% premium for the same measure. Mushin is also the dearest market for the paint at ₦4,500, against ₦4,000 at Agege Market, a 12.5% gap. For bulk buyers, Agege Market is cheapest for both the 25kg bag at ₦24,000 and the 50kg bag at ₦48,000, while Ajah Market is dearest at ₦27,000 and ₦54,000. Buying the 50kg bag at Agege in place of Ajah saves ₦6,000, or 12.5% of the Agege price.
Local Rice Has Fallen Less Than Imported
External reporting agrees that local rice is the stickier of the two. Legit.ng reported on 29 September 2026 that Nigerian-manufactured rice has declined less sharply this year than imported varieties, and described price relief as uneven, with renewed pressure in Lagos late in the month. WFP data held by FoodPrices shows national retail prices of local rice down 28.6% year on year, from ₦3,083 to ₦2,200 per 2.7kg, so the longer trend is still firmly downward. This week's derica move runs against it.
Live prices: foodprices.ng/real-time-prices/?brand_name=Nigerian+Manufactured+Rice