Onions
Price history
| Updated | Market | Latest | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 May 2026 | Mile 12 | ₦1,000 | Lagos State Govt |
| 15 April 2026 | Mile 12 | ₦1,060 | Lagos State Govt |
| 15 April 2026 | Daleko Market | ₦1,000 | Nairametrics survey |
| 15 April 2026 | Oyingbo | ₦1,080 | Nairametrics survey |
| 15 April 2026 | Mushin | ₦1,030 | Nairametrics survey |
| 15 March 2026 | Mile 12 | ₦1,080 | Lagos State Govt |
| 15 March 2026 | Daleko Market | ₦1,020 | Nairametrics survey |
| 15 March 2026 | Oyingbo | ₦1,100 | Nairametrics survey |
| 15 March 2026 | Mushin | ₦1,050 | Nairametrics survey |
Price by Market
| Market | Area | Price | vs cheapest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mile 12 | Ketu, Mainland | ₦1,000 | Cheapest ✓ |
Mile 12: Lagos's largest wholesale food market. Best for bulk grains, rice, and beans. Busiest early morning.
📦 Storage tips
Store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area — not in the fridge (moisture causes rot). Whole onions last 2-4 weeks at room temperature. Cut onions should be refrigerated and used within 3 days. Hang in mesh bags for best airflow.
🛒 Buying tips
Buy medium-sized onions — they store longer than large ones. Check for soft spots and sprouting before buying. Lagos markets sell by the "bag" (100kg, ₦40,000-₦50,000) or by weight (₦1,060/kg retail). Sokoto/Kebbi onions have stronger flavor than imports.
🥗 Nutrition
Low calorie, high in Vitamin C and antioxidants. The compound that makes you cry (syn-propanethial-S-oxide) is released when cells are broken. Cooking reduces the tears and sweetens the flavor.
🍳 Used in
🔁 Substitutes
📝 Why this price matters
Onions are the quiet essential — less dramatic than pepper or tomatoes, but present in literally every Nigerian dish. At ₦1,060/kg, they're relatively stable compared to other vegetables, partly because northern Nigeria's onion harvest cycle is more predictable than tomato or pepper. The Sokoto-to-Lagos supply chain is well-established, with dedicated "onion trucks" running the 900km route regularly. The NBS data shows onion prices dropped 17.87% year-on-year in January 2026, making them one of the few food items that have genuinely become more affordable. However, onion prices spike 30-40% during pre-harvest months (July-September) when stored stock runs low.