NBS Data Reveals Persistent North-South Food Price Gap Despite National Moderation

The NBS January 2026 Selected Food Price Watch confirmed that southern zones continue to post higher commodity prices than the north, driven by structural logistics inefficiencies rather than supply differences. For local rice, Niger State recorded the highest price at ?1,841/kg while prices in northern producing states remained significantly lower. Beans prices showed the widest spread — Ondo posted the highest at over ?1,596/kg against Sokoto's ?745/kg, a 114% differential for the same commodity. Analysts note the price gap narrows when the dry-season northern harvest flood arrives in southern markets but widens again as harvest stocks deplete. The pattern reinforces the arbitrage case for traders with inter-state distribution capabilities.