The price of onions has surged dramatically across major markets in Nigeria, with a big bag now selling for as high as ₦250,000 — more than double the ₦120,000 recorded last year — representing an increase of over 100 per cent.
According to market reports compiled by Daily Trust as of early September 2026, a medium-sized bag of onions is currently selling for ₦180,000, up from ₦80,000 in the corresponding period of 2025, an increase of 125 per cent.
In Kano, one of the country’s major onion trading hubs, the big bag commands ₦250,000 while the medium bag goes for ₦180,000. Similar prices were recorded in Jos, Plateau State, where a full bag sells for ₦250,000 and a half bag for ₦125,000, with some varieties ranging between ₦215,000 and ₦230,000.
Farmers and traders attribute the sharp rise to a combination of factors, primarily flooding that devastated onion farms in key producing states including Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Kano, Kaduna, Katsina and Adamawa. Climate change effects, extended rainfall, disease outbreaks, and the high cost of production inputs have further constrained supply.
Alhaji Aliyu Isa Maitasamu, President of the National Onion Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NOPPMAN), explained that the price of onion seeds alone has jumped by 150 per cent — from ₦50,000 to ₦150,000 — while the costs of chemicals and fertilisers have also soared.
A cup of onion seed now sells for about ₦30,000 in Kano markets, with a measure (mudu) going for around ₦130,000, described as the highest in a decade. A single bed of onion seedlings is now priced between ₦100,000 and ₦105,000, compared to ₦8,000–₦10,000 last year.
Traders warn that prices may remain elevated or climb further in the coming months due to reduced supply and strong demand, including from neighbouring countries. The surge is already putting pressure on household budgets, restaurants, food vendors and processors who rely heavily on onions as a staple ingredient.
The development comes against the backdrop of broader food inflation challenges in Nigeria, where weather-related disruptions and rising input costs continue to affect the prices of essential commodities. Stakeholders are calling for improved irrigation, better storage facilities and support for farmers to stabilise production and ease the burden on consumers.
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