While drum and white beans set records in the week of June 1, oloyin, the soft brown variety most Lagos kitchens prefer, was the one grade to step back. A 50kg bag eased to ₦70,000 at Ajah Market and ₦73,333 at Lekki-Jakande Market, leaving Lekki-Jakande the dearer of the two by ₦3,333, the reverse of the drum and white beans picture where Ajah leads.
A Small Reprieve at the Bag
Both markets eased from March. At Ajah, the oloyin bag slipped from ₦74,000 in the week of March 16, a fall of 5.4%, while at Lekki-Jakande it fell from ₦77,000 over the same span, down 4.8%. These are modest declines, but in a month when every other bean grade pushed higher, a softer oloyin bag is a genuine signal for the households that lean on it most.
Retail Moved the Other Way
The bag eased, but the bowl did not. A paint bucket of oloyin at Lekki-Jakande firmed to ₦6,000 from ₦5,500 in March, up 9.1%, and a derica rose to ₦1,366 from ₦1,200, up 13.9%. At Ajah the paint bucket held flat at ₦5,500 while the derica edged up to ₦1,300 from ₦1,200. So the household buying oloyin by the paint at Lekki-Jakande saw prices rise even as the wholesale bag fell, the kind of divergence that happens when retailers hold their margins while bulk prices soften.
Against the Rest of Lagos
Oloyin is the most widely tracked bean grade in the file, which gives a rich backdrop. When other markets were last captured between March and April, a 50kg bag of oloyin ran ₦60,000 to ₦67,666 across Agege, Oshodi, Ikotun, Mile 12, Mushin, Sabo, Ayopo and the two Ipaja markets. The June readings at Ajah and Lekki-Jakande sit a step above that earlier band, so even the grade that eased this month remains historically firm.
The Bigger Picture
The NBS lists beans among the staples moving its monthly food index, and Nairametrics noted food inflation climbed back above the headline rate in April 2026 for the first time in eight months. Oloyin's small retreat does not change that broader pressure, but it does show the beans market is not moving as one block. Buyers can track the grade that fits their budget on the grain price index.
Live prices: Ajah Market and Lekki-Jakande Market.