Food Inflation Tops 20% in 11 States

Food inflation in Nigeria surged above 20% in 11 states in April 2026, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), marking renewed pressure on household purchasing power.

The latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) showed food inflation at 16.06%, slightly higher than headline inflation at 15.69%, the first time food inflation overtook all-item inflation since August 2025.

States with the highest food inflation were Enugu (32.7%), Kwara (30.8%), and Adamawa (30.1%), while Borno (1.7%), Jigawa (6.2%), and Taraba (7.2%) recorded the lowest increases. Other states above 20% included Rivers, Delta, Bauchi, Edo, Zamfara, Gombe, Anambra, and Benue.

The NBS said the rise was driven by higher prices of staples such as millet, yam flour, ginger, beef, garri, yam tubers, pepper, crayfish, cassava, beans, potatoes, tomatoes, wheat, soybeans, guinea corn, plantain, and carrots.

Month-on-month increases were sharpest in Niger (8.5%), Bauchi (6.8%), and Kogi (6.7%), while Kebbi (0.2%) recorded the slowest rise. Rural inflation (16.36%) remained higher than urban (15.40%), reflecting deeper supply chain challenges.

The Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) warned that between 16–17 million Nigerians could require urgent food assistance by November 2026, placing Nigeria among the countries with the highest projected humanitarian needs globally.

Economist Muda Yusuf said: “Food inflation stood at 16.06%, while core inflation remained elevated at 15.86%.

The dominant drivers continue to be food, transportation, energy, healthcare, and restaurant services.” He cautioned that structural issues, not demand, were fuelling inflation.

Dr Chinyere Almona of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry added that inflation continues to erode purchasing power and weaken business margins, especially for manufacturers, MSMEs, traders, and low-income households, calling for stronger policy coordination and supply-side reforms.