Nigeria consuming more wheat, corn, rice and sorghum

Corn, wheat, rice and sorghum consumption in Nigeria is expected to increase in 2025-26, driven by appreciation of the naira, slowing food price inflation and macroeconomic stabilization, according to a report from the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) of the US Department of Agriculture. Wheat consumption is expected to increase 10% to 5.6 million tonnes. About 70% of the wheat flour produced is used to make bread, with the rest used in other wheat-based food like cakes, biscuits and other pastries. Bread demand has remained steady despite price hikes in 2023-24 for Africa’s most populous country with about 228 million people. “In contrast to rice and other staples that are consumed with other ingredients, many consumers consider bread as a complete meal on its own,” the FAS said. “Consumers have adopted bread consumption as a coping mechanism due to challenging food price inflation.” Wheat production is estimated at 135,000 tonnes, about a 13% increase compared to the ...