Nigeria’s food inflation climbs back to double digits
Nigeria’s food inflation rate has surged again, putting renewed pressure on households and businesses. The latest data from the National Bureau of Statistics shows a sharp increase in food prices, reversing a brief period of relief. Business leaders and farmers warn that the spike is driven by high input costs and persistent structural challenges. Dr Femi Egbesola and Dr Muda Yusuf stress that the marginal drop in headline inflation offers little real relief.
TLDR
- Food inflation rose to 12.12 per cent year-on-year in February 2026, up from 8.89 per cent in January 2026, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.
- The average annual food inflation rate for the twelve months ending February 2026 was 19.08 per cent, sharply down from 37.40 per cent in February 2025.
- State-level data showed Kogi had the highest food inflation at 26.91 per cent, while Katsina recorded the lowest at 5.09 per cent.
- Nigeria’s headline inflation rate eased slightly to 15.06 per cent in February 2026, compared to 15.10 per cent in January 2026.
- Business leaders warn that high food and energy costs continue to squeeze households and enterprises, with concerns that rising global energy prices could push inflation higher in the coming months.
