When majority of nigerians go to parties, the food they love to request for is jollof rice. Now, either at home or at such social function, do people bother to ask the question about the cost of a plate of their favourite delicacy? Do you feel like you want to do that right away? That may not be necessary, as a research outfit has taken up the challenge for all. It is the SB Morgan. Its June edition of Jollof Rice Index revealed that the average cost of preparing a pot of jollof rice has risen by 19.6 per cent to N20,274 from the N16,955 spent in March 2024. We leave you to go further to calculate the number of plates in the pot for you to get the actual cost of a plate of rice that is served at social functions.
BUSHLINK had reported that food inflation in June rose to 40.87 per cent. The SB Morgan Jollof rice report attributed the increase to the rise in key ingredients, particularly tomatoes and pepper. It blamed the rise on seasonal changes, and the ongoing foreign exchange challenges. The Report stated that essential ingredients such as rice, turkey, beef as well as vegetable oil maintained their already high prices, further contributing to the overall cost.
The cost is further compounded by cost of energy, transport, fluctuations in the foreign exchange market, and low food production.
“The current situation is compounded by ongoing foreign exchange difficulties, which have increased costs for essential inputs such as pesticides and energy.
“Furthermore, transportation costs have skyrocketed due to higher fuel prices, and the importation of tomato seeds and pesticides remains dollar-dependent, further worsening the challenge,” the report said.
That notwithstanding, there are variations in the costs depending on the location in the country. According to the report, residents of Onitsha saw the highest increase in the cost of preparing a pot of jollof rice with 50 per cent from N14,900 in March to N22,350 in June. In Bauchi, the cost of preparing a pot of jollof rice rose by 33.0 per cent, from N16,970 to N22,570. In Ibadan, capital of Oyo State, the cost of preparing a pot of jollof rice rose from N15,620 to N20,330. Residents there are slightly lucky when coampared with those in Nyanya Market in Abuja, where they experienced a price increase of 24.9 per cent from N17,500 to N21,850. The report shows that the price is not the same in all the areas in the federal capital territory, FCT. So, in Wuse II market there is a steady price increase from N19,300 in March to N23,150 in June 2024.
