Maize Price in Nigeria Today: Per Bag, Per Kg and Per Tonne

Maize Price in Nigeria Today: Per Bag, Per Kg and Per Tonne

Last updated: 2 October 2026. The newest verified maize prices we could find are from January and February 2026. Check them against your local market before you buy or sell.

The most recent reliable reports put wholesale maize at roughly ₦230 to ₦300 per kg (about ₦230,000 to ₦300,000 per tonne) in early 2026. That is far below the 2023 peak. We could not find a verified national maize price dated September 2026, so this guide shows the latest confirmed figures with their dates instead of presenting an old number as today’s price. New maize is arriving from the 2026 harvest now, so prices in your market may already differ from the early-2026 figures below.

Current Price

National wholesale level. In early February 2026, the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) said maize had dropped from ₦800 to ₦300 per kilogramme, speaking on Channels Television. It did not give the date of the ₦800 price.

Northern farm and market level. A Daily Trust survey of markets reported in Legit.ng in mid-February 2026 found a 100kg bag of maize in Taraba rising from ₦15,000 to ₦18,000 to between ₦23,000 and ₦24,000 ahead of Ramadan. In Abuja, a bag was reported at ₦25,000 to ₦27,000 or higher, though the report did not state the bag size.

Retail level. National Bureau of Statistics data for January 2026, summarised by Legit.ng, showed the average price of white maize grain down 32.85 percent year on year, from ₦1,168.34 to ₦784.59. The NBS series is normally quoted per kilogram for loose retail maize, which would explain why it sits well above the wholesale figures.

Indicative aggregator listing. One price aggregator lists maize at ₦28,000 to ₦42,000 per 50kg bag for October 2026 as a “national average”. We could not trace this to a primary source, so treat it as a rough guide only.

Price Table

Converted to a common unit (our own arithmetic from the figures above):

Do not read these as a single price. Farm gate, wholesale and retail loose prices are different layers of the same market, and the retail figure includes the trader’s margin.

What Affects the Price?

Harvest timing. Maize is a seasonal crop. Prices usually soften when new grain reaches the market, which is generally from around August to November depending on the region, and firm up in the lean months from roughly November to June.

Poultry and feed demand. Maize is the main energy ingredient in poultry feed, and Nigeria’s poultry association has said it makes up a large share of feed formulations. When feed millers and large poultry farms buy heavily, local prices respond quickly.

Past shocks. The market can swing hard. In 2023, PAN reported average maize prices jumping 110.9 percent, from ₦227,500 per tonne in June to ₦480,000 in August, which it called the highest monthly surge on record. The 2026 fall shows the same volatility in the other direction.

Imports and global prices. Grain imports and international markets feed into local prices. FEWS NET’s September 2026 report said international maize prices rose 5.3 percent, driven by lower US yields and the smallest EU crop since 2007/08. That does not translate directly into Nigerian farm prices, but it is worth watching if imports are in play.

Weather, pests and insecurity. Rainfall shortages, armyworm and attacks or disruptions on farms and haulage routes all cut supply and push prices up.

Transport and storage. Maize is bulky and low in value per kilogram, so haulage is a large share of the final price. Poor storage also causes moisture and aflatoxin losses.

Variety and quality. White, yellow and red maize, hybrid and local types, and clean dry grain versus damp or mouldy grain all trade at different prices.

Wholesale vs Retail Price

Maize is sold in several units, which causes constant confusion: per tonne, per 100kg bag, per 50kg bag, per paint or “mudu”, and per cob when fresh. A bag can also vary in actual weight, so always ask what the bag weighs.

The gap between layers is large. At the early-2026 figures, farm and wholesale maize was around ₦230 to ₦300 per kg, while the NBS retail loose average was around ₦785 per kg in January. The wider the gap, the more value is being captured by aggregators, transporters and retailers, or the more time has passed between the two readings. When the numbers do not line up, check dates and units before drawing conclusions.

Price Differences Across Nigeria

Maize is cheapest near the producing belts of the North and North-Central, including Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Benue, Niger, Plateau and Taraba, and dearer in southern cities that import grain from the North. Taraba’s February price rose sharply before Ramadan, which shows that local demand spikes can move prices even within the main producing region. In Abuja, traders quoted bag prices at or above ₦25,000 to ₦27,000 the same month.

We do not have a clean, recent, state-by-state maize table, so we have not built one. A table of unrelated survey dates and bag sizes would mislead more than it helps.

What Farmers Should Know

Know your cost per tonne. Seed, fertiliser, herbicide, labour, harvesting, shelling, drying, bagging and haulage all add up. If the market price is below your cost, decide in advance whether to store, sell part or look for a better buyer.

Dry the grain properly. Moisture is the main quality problem. Dry on tarpaulin or concrete, keep grain off the ground, use clean bags and sell or store before mould develops. Dry, clean grain earns a better price.

Understand how feed demand works. Feed millers and poultry farmers are major buyers. The Poultry Association said in February 2026 that despite lower grain costs, finished feed prices had not fallen, with layer feed at ₦15,000 to ₦17,000 per 25kg bag and broiler feed at ₦20,000 to ₦22,000. BusinessDay reported that millers cut feed prices by only about 10 percent against a 62.5 percent plunge in maize and soybean costs, and that some poultry farmers were switching to home-mixed feed. That shift can create direct buyers for farmers who can supply clean maize in volume.

Sell in groups. Aggregating through a cooperative or association gives you volume, which buyers want, and spreads haulage costs.

Do not assume the Ramadan or lean-season rise will come back. Prices did jump in February 2026, but trends differ from year to year.

Watch the timing. Selling immediately at harvest usually gets the lowest price. If you can store safely and wait, you may get more, but only if losses and borrowing costs do not eat the gain.

What Buyers Should Know

Confirm the unit and the weight. Ask if the price is per 50kg, 100kg, tonne or paint, and weigh a sample bag if you can.

Inspect the grain. Check moisture (grain should be hard and dry), mould, weevil damage, broken kernels, stones and foreign matter. Maize that looks cheap but is damp can cost far more in losses.

Match variety to use. Feed mills, flour and starch processors, breweries and households use different grades. White maize for human food and yellow for feed are common, though practice varies.

Compare prices across several sellers in the same market on the same day, and ask for the date of any price quoted to you.

Buy in volume if you can store it. Larger lots cost less per kilogram, but you need dry, ventilated storage.

Check delivery costs. The cheapest ex-farm price can lose its advantage once you add transport, especially for southern buyers sourcing from the North.

Where to Buy or Sell

Grain markets in the North. Dandume Market in Katsina State is known for grains including maize, sorghum, millet and rice, and other large markets in Kano and Kaduna handle heavy volumes. Visit or call ahead for current prices.

Feed mills and poultry farms. Commercial feed millers and large poultry operations buy maize in bulk. Poultry associations and farmer groups are a practical way to find them.

Farmer associations and cooperatives. The Maize Growers and Processors Association of Nigeria (MAGPAMAN) and state farmer groups can help connect growers with buyers and share price information.

Commodity and reserve channels. In past years, the Nigeria Commodity Exchange and the CBN’s Strategic Maize Reserve have been involved in maize allocation and price interventions. Ask whether any scheme is active before relying on it.

Online classifieds. Listings exist, but verify the seller, inspect before paying and avoid paying in advance to unknown parties.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is maize per kg in Nigeria today?

We could not verify a September 2026 national figure. The latest reliable reports show about ₦230 to ₦300 per kg at wholesale in early 2026, and a higher retail loose price of around ₦785 per kg in January 2026.

How much is a 100kg bag of maize?

In Taraba in February 2026, a 100kg bag was ₦23,000 to ₦24,000. Prices are higher in Abuja and southern markets, and your local market may differ again after the new harvest.

How much is a tonne of maize in Nigeria?

Early-2026 reports imply roughly ₦230,000 to ₦300,000 per tonne. In August 2023, by comparison, PAN reported ₦480,000 per tonne.

Why did maize prices fall in 2026?

The reports we found point to better supply compared with the earlier shortage. We did not find a single authoritative explanation, so treat any one cause with caution.

Why is maize cheaper in the North?

It is grown there, so transport and middlemen costs are lower. Southern markets pay for haulage and extra handling.

When is maize cheapest?

Usually around harvest, from about August to November, and dearest in the lean months before the next harvest. Local conditions can change this.

Why has poultry feed not fallen as much as maize?

Feed prices also reflect soybean, other ingredients, energy, labour and miller margins. PAN has criticised millers for not passing on the full drop in grain costs.

Prices are reported figures and market indications, not guarantees. Actual prices depend on location, season, quality, grade, quantity, supply, demand, transport and market conditions.