Food Inflation Returns to Double Digits at 12.12%
Nigeria’s food inflation rate rose to 12.12% in February 2026, reversing the single-digit level recorded in January and signalling renewed pressure on household food costs.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the figure jumped from 8.89% in January, marking a 3.23 percentage-point increase.
“The Food inflation rate in February 2026 was 12.12 per cent… 14.86 percentage points lower compared to February 2025 (26.98 per cent),” the report stated.
On a month-to-month basis, food prices rose 4.69%, driven by higher costs of staples such as beans, cassava, yam flour, crayfish, millet flour, and cowpeas. Farmers attributed the surge to rising input costs and urged government intervention.
Despite the monthly rebound, longer-term indicators showed easing compared with last year. The average annual food inflation rate stood at 19.08%, down sharply from 37.40% in February 2025.
State-level data revealed wide disparities: Kogi (26.91%), Adamawa (23.12%), and Benue (21.89%) posted the highest food inflation, while Katsina (5.09%), Bauchi (7.09%), and Imo (7.65%) recorded the lowest.
Headline inflation eased slightly to 15.06% in February, down from 15.10% in January, though month-on-month inflation rose 2.01%, reflecting renewed price pressures.
Food and non-alcoholic beverages contributed the largest share to overall inflation at 6.03 percentage points.
Business leaders warned that the marginal easing in headline inflation offers little relief. Dr Femi Egbesola of the Association of Small Business Owners said: “For us as SMEs, I don’t think it is a call for celebration yet… food and energy costs remain high.”
Economist Dr Muda Yusuf added that the return of food inflation to double digits is concerning, citing insecurity, logistics costs, and rising energy prices as persistent structural challenges.
“If food inflation has jumped from single digits to about 12 per cent, then that should be concerning,” he said.
