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Yam (Medium Tuber)

Current price
₦2,500
per 1 tuber · Lagos State Govt · 15 May 2026
▼ 7.4%

Price history

UpdatedMarketLatestSource
15 May 2026Mile 12₦2,500Lagos State Govt
15 April 2026Mile 12₦2,700Lagos State Govt
15 April 2026Daleko Market₦2,550Nairametrics survey
15 April 2026Oyingbo₦2,650Nairametrics survey
15 April 2026Mushin₦2,600Nairametrics survey
15 March 2026Mile 12₦2,460Lagos State Govt
15 March 2026Daleko Market₦2,300Nairametrics survey
15 March 2026Oyingbo₦2,500Nairametrics survey
15 March 2026Mushin₦2,350Nairametrics survey

Price by Market

MarketAreaPricevs cheapest
Mile 12Ketu, Mainland₦2,500Cheapest ✓

Mile 12: Lagos's largest wholesale food market. Best for bulk grains, rice, and beans. Busiest early morning.

How much does it cost to cook Pounded yam (iyan)?
See the cost of Pounded yam (iyan), Boiled yam, and 4 more dishes using live Lagos prices
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Yoruba name
Ișu
Igbo name
Ji
Season
Seasonal
Peak months: Aug-Dec (new yam season, cheapest), Mar-Jun (stored yam, expensive)
Price trend
Rising
Origin
Primarily from Benue, Nasarawa, Taraba, Niger, and Kwame states — Nigeria's "Middle Belt" yam region. Nigeria produces 67% of the world's yams. Yams travel 500-800km by road to Lagos. "Abuja yam" and "Benue yam" are the most common varieties in Lagos markets.
Also known as
Yam tuberWhite yam (Dioscorea rotundata)Water yamPuna yamIsu

📦 Storage tips

Store whole yams in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area — NOT in the fridge. Properly stored, whole yams last 2-4 months. Cut yam must be used within 2-3 days (refrigerated). To prevent sprouting, keep away from light. In Lagos heat, lifespan is shorter — buy weekly rather than storing.

🛒 Buying tips

Size matters — medium tubers (₦2,500-₦3,500) are better value than small ones. Check for soft spots and insect damage by pressing the skin. The cut end should be white/cream, not brown or watery. "New yam" (August harvest) is more expensive but fresher. Oyingbo Market and Mile 12 have the best bulk prices. Prices nearly double between new yam season (₦1,500-₦2,500) and pre-harvest scarcity (₦3,500-₦7,000).

🥗 Nutrition

High in complex carbohydrates, Vitamin C, and potassium. Lower glycemic index than garri or rice — better for blood sugar management. One medium tuber (1-1.5kg) serves 3-4 people as pounded yam.

🍳 Used in

Pounded yam (iyan)Boiled yamFried yamYam porridge (asaro)Yam pottageRoasted yam (boli — usually plantain but yam too)

🔁 Substitutes

Poundo yam flour (instant, ₦1,500/kg — much cheaper)SemovitaFufuAmala (yam flour)

📝 Why this price matters

Yam is Nigeria's prestige staple — pounded yam is the "Sunday meal" and the centerpiece of celebrations. At ₦2,700 per medium tuber (April 2026), prices have risen significantly from ₦1,200-₦2,000 at the same time last year. Fresh harvests are limited because the new planting season has just begun — by August when the new yam harvest arrives, prices could drop 40-50%. The seasonal cycle is extreme: tubers that cost ₦2,500 now sold for nearly ₦10,000 during the 2024 crisis. Nigeria produces 67% of the world's yams, yet Lagos — a city of 18 million — produces zero and depends entirely on trucked supply from the Middle Belt, 500-800km away. Every naira added to diesel is a naira added to yam prices in Lagos. The cost of pounded yam and efo riro (₦3,937/person in our cooking calculator) makes it the most expensive everyday meal in Lagos — a luxury increasingly reserved for weekends.

FAQ

Yam (Medium Tuber) currently sells for ₦2,500 per 1 tuber at Mile 12, our reference market.