Introduction
As we enter the first quarter of Q1 2026, latest food prices in Makurdi’s major markets including Wurukum Market continue to reflect the combined effects of seasonal supply shifts, transportation costs, and broader economic trends. While headline inflation has eased and the naira shows relative stability, many staple food items still command significant portions of household budgets. In fact Wurukum Market remains one of Makurdi’s busiest and most influential food hubs, supplying thousands of households, retailers, and food vendors daily. As these trends continue to shape food availability, tracking the Latest Food prices in Wurukum Market has become essential for families, traders, and budget-conscious residents across Makurdi and Benue State.
Why Monitoring Food Prices in Wurukum Market Matters
Firstly, Wurukum Market is more than a local trading point; it serves as a price reference market for Wadata, High Level, North Bank, Modern Market axis, and surrounding communities. Therefore, any price movement in Wurukum often ripples across Makurdi.
Secondly, given that food expenditure consumes a large share of household income, especially in Makurdi, the importance of Wurukum Market food price monitoring cannot be overstated. With the average Nigerian household spending about 59% of income on food (NBS 2025). Therefore, timely market updates help residents:
- Plan better and avoid unexpected cost pressures
- Plan weekly and monthly food budgets
- Decide the best time to buy in bulk
- Compare prices across markets
- Adjust consumption based on affordability
Insight:
The inflation decline has reduced panic pricing among traders, leading to fewer sudden price hikes and more predictable food costs.
Why Food Prices Are Changing in Wurukum Market (Q1 2026)
Food prices do not change randomly. Instead, several key factors are shaping market trends this quarter:
1. Transportation and Fuel Cost
Transportation costs are a major factor driving food prices in Wurukum Market. Most food items sold here such as yam, rice, maize, beans, vegetables, and tubers are sourced from farming communities across Benue State and neighboring states. Hence, the cost of moving goods from farms in rural communities to urban markets like Wurukum directly impacts the prices consumers pay.
Key ways transportation affects prices include:
Fuel Prices:
When fuel costs rise, trucks, motorcycles, and other vehicles transporting food incur higher expenses, which traders pass on to buyers.
Logistics and Vehicle Availability:
Poor road conditions or limited vehicles can delay delivery, leading to scarcity and price spikes for certain items.
Perishable Goods Losses:
Longer travel times or inefficient transport can result in spoilage of vegetables, fruits, tomatoes, peppers, and leafy greens, reducing supply and increasing market prices.
Seasonal and Distance Factors:
Crops transported from distant towns or states cost more due to longer journeys and higher labor or toll costs.
Makurdi Biz Market Insight:
In Wurukum Market, transportation accounts for a significant portion of food pricing. For example, during the dry season, when roads are more passable, prices may stabilize, whereas during flooding or poor road conditions, prices often rise sharply. Efficient and affordable transport is therefore crucial for keeping staple foods accessible to Makurdi residents.
2, Seasonal Harvest Changes and Food Prices in Wurukum Market, Makurdi
Seasonal harvest cycles play a major role in determining food availability and prices in Wurukum Market. Early Q1, January and February 2026 mark the transition period between post-harvest abundance and dry-season scarcity. During this time, grains such as maize, millet, and local rice remain relatively available, but perishable items like tomatoes, peppers, and leafy vegetables are beginning to experience reduced supply.
Key ways seasonal fluctuations affect food prices include:
Supply Reduction:
As the wet-season harvest ends, fewer fresh vegetables and fruits reach the market, leading to temporary scarcity. This naturally drives up prices for perishable items.
Increased Dependence on Stored or Imported Goods:
Traders often rely on stored produce or imports to meet demand, which are more expensive than fresh, locally harvested items.
Processing and Storage Costs:
Preservation and storage cost are ultimately of perishable food items are passed on to consumers.
Price Volatility:
Perishable goods, particularly tomatoes and peppers, are highly sensitive to short-term supply changes. Even a minor disruption in rural supply routes can lead to significant price spikes.
Makurdi Biz Market Insight:
Dry-season farming is gradually replacing rain-fed produce, pushing vegetable prices upward despite stable demand.
During this seasonal transition, traders in Wurukum Market report that tomato baskets now cost between ₦4,000–₦5,000, reflecting the scarcity caused by the dry-season shift. Pepper prices are also rising gradually. Meanwhile, staple grains such as maize and local rice remain relatively stable because supply from multiple farming areas still meets demand. Residents are advised to monitor weekly updates and buy perishable items early to avoid peak pricing.
3. Climate and Perennial Flooding Effects on Food Prices in Wurukum Market, Makurdi
Climate-related challenges, particularly perennial flooding, remain a significant factor influencing food prices in Wurukum Market. Many farming communities in Benue State are prone to seasonal floods, which can damage crops, delay harvests, and disrupt transportation routes. These disruptions reduce the quantity of fresh produce reaching Wurukum Market and other major markets in Makurdi.
Key ways flooding affects prices include:
Reduced Crop Yields:
Flooding destroys crops such as yam, tomatoes, peppers, and leafy vegetables, limiting supply and increasing scarcity-driven price hikes.
Supply Route Disruption:
Flooded or damaged roads prevent timely transport of goods from farms to the market, causing delays and increasing transportation costs.
Higher Risk of Spoilage:
Perishable items that survive the floods often require longer storage or careful handling during transit, adding to the cost for traders.
Market Volatility:
Even minor flooding in key farming areas can lead to sharp, short-term spikes in vegetable, tuber, and grain prices.
Makurdi Biz Market Insight:
Flood-affected communities now contribute significantly less produce to Wurukum Market, especially tomatoes, peppers, and leafy vegetables. This has led to tighter supply and increased price volatility, with tomato baskets currently selling between ₦4,000–₦5,000 and peppers at ₦300–₦400 per cup. Traders and households are advised to anticipate short-term price spikes and plan purchases accordingly.
4. Demand Pressure and Its Impact on Food Prices in Wurukum Market, Makurdi
Demand fluctuations are a major driver of food price movements in Wurukum Market. Post-festive restocking, school resumptions, and routine household consumption collectively increase the demand for staple foods during the first quarter of the year. When supply does not rise to match this heightened demand, prices naturally experience upward pressure.
Key ways demand affects prices include:
Household Restocking:
After the festive season, families replenish stocks of essential items like rice, beans, yam, and cooking oil, increasing immediate demand in the market.
School Resumption:
With schools reopening, demand for daily meals, snacks, and protein sources rises, particularly affecting staples like beans, eggs, and frozen fish.
Trader Stocking:
Market traders often increase bulk purchases to meet projected consumer demand, which can temporarily reduce available stock for smaller buyers and push prices higher.
Mismatch Between Supply and Demand:
When supply from farms and wholesalers remains constant or declines due to seasonal or climate factors, even moderate increases in demand can significantly elevate prices.
Makurdi Biz Market Insight:
In Wurukum Market, higher demand without a matching increase in supply has kept prices elevated, especially for beans (₦1,500–₦1,800 per mudu), rice (₦1,200–₦1,400 per mudu), and protein foods such as beef and chicken. Residents and traders are advised to monitor weekly updates and plan purchases strategically to mitigate cost pressures during peak demand periods.
5. Inflation Drop and What It Means for Foodstuff Prices in Makurdi
Comparatively, Nigeria’s headline inflation rate for Q4 2025 stood at 15.1%, a sharp decline from 38% recorded in Q4 2024, representing a landslide reduction in inflationary pressure. Consequently, this change has important implications for foodstuff prices in Makurdi.
During Q4 2024, high inflation drove up the prices of staple foods across Wurukum, North Bank, Modern Market, and High-Level markets. However, the inflation slowdown recorded in late 2025 has resulted in slower price increases and relative stability, rather than immediate price drops.
Makurdi Biz Market
Exchange Rate Stability and Food/Input Importation affect Food Prices in wurukum market
Beyond inflation, the naira–dollar exchange rates play a crucial role in determining food prices in Wurukum Market. In 2024, naira depreciation sharply increased production and distribution costs. However, as exchange rates showed relative stability in late 2025, pressure on food prices began to ease. A more stable naira helps reduce the cost of:
- Imported food items and inputs
- Fertilizers, agro-chemicals, and farm machinery parts
- Fuel and logistics tied to importation
For locally produced foods such as yam, cassava, maize, and vegetables, the exchange rate still matters because farmers rely on imported inputs. Consequently, stability supports predictable pricing and improved market confidence.
Latest Prices of Food Stuff in Wurukum Market (Q1 2026)
Grains and Cereals
- Local Rice (1 mudu): ₦1,200 – ₦1,400, Local Rice (50kg): ₦50,000 – ₦60,000
- Imported/Foreign rice: ₦1,600 – ₦1,800, Imported/Foreign rice 50kg: ₦60,000 – ₦90,000
- Maize (1 mudu): ₦1,000 – ₦1,300
- Guinea Corn/Millet: ₦1,100 – ₦1,400
Market Insight:
Local rice remains cheaper than imported brands, though supply is tightening.
Garri, Beans, and Tubers
- Garri (1 paint): ₦2,500 – ₦3,000
- White Beans (1 mudu): ₦1,500 – ₦1,800
- Yam (medium – large tuber): ₦1,000 – ₦2,500
Trend Watch:
Garri prices have eased slightly due to improved supply from Otukpo, Ado, and Gboko axis.
Vegetables and Perishables
- Tomatoes (small basket): ₦4,000 – ₦5,000
- Onions (bag): ₦28,000 – ₦32,000
- Pepper (small cup): ₦300 – ₦400
Protein Foods
- Beef (1kg): ₦4,000 – ₦4,500
- Live Chicken: ₦6,000 – ₦10,000
- Fresh Fish (1kg): ₦2,000 – ₦6,800
Cooking Essentials
- Palm Oil (1 bottle): ₦1,200 – ₦1,500
- Groundnut Oil (1 litre): ₦1,800 – ₦2,200
What Residents Should Expect in the Coming Weeks …
- Looking ahead to late February through early April 2026:
- Possible increases in rice and vegetables
- Relative stability for garri and maize
- Continued pressure on protein foods
- Potential relief if irrigation farming improves supply
Trend Watch:
Garri prices have eased slightly due to increased supply from Otukpo, Ado, and Gboko axis of Benue state.
Conclusion: Food Price Outlook in Wurukum Market, Q1 2026
In summary, food prices in Wurukum Market during Q1 2026 reflect a period of cautious stability rather than sharp decline. While the drop in headline inflation and relative stability of the naira have helped slow the pace of price increases, key factors such as transportation costs, seasonal harvest transitions, climate-related flooding, and rising demand continue to shape market conditions in Makurdi.
Staple foods like garri and maize remain relatively affordable, while items such as rice, beans, vegetables, and protein foods continue to command higher prices due to supply constraints and cost pressures. As Wurukum Market serves as a major price reference point for Makurdi and surrounding communities, its price movements offer valuable insight into the broader food economy of Benue State.