Kogi, Niger and Benue Lead Nigeria’s Food Inflation Surge

Food prices remained under heavy pressure across Nigeria in June 2026, with Kogi, Niger and Benue recording the highest year-on-year increases, according to the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The report showed that Nigeria food inflation stood at 17.52 per cent year-on-year, although significant differences were recorded across states.

Kogi State posted the highest food inflation rate at 53.02 per cent, followed by Niger State at 43.83 per cent and Benue State at 40.83 per cent. While the national figure was lower than the 25.41 per cent recorded in June 2025, the Nigeria food inflation trend continued to place pressure on households in several parts of the country.

The NBS attributed the increase to rising average prices of staple foods, including crayfish, fresh pepper, fresh tomatoes, dried green peas, yam flour, water yam, beef, banana, cassava flour, cowpea, garri, Irish potatoes and yam tubers. On a month-on-month basis, Nigeria food inflation rose from 2.98 per cent in May to 3.75 per cent in June, indicating a faster pace of food price increases.

The report also showed wide differences among states. Katsina recorded the lowest annual food inflation rate at 19.15 per cent, followed by Rivers at 23.81 per cent and Imo at 24.60 per cent. However, Katsina recorded the highest monthly increase in food prices at 16.82 per cent, ahead of Kebbi and Niger.

Meanwhile, Borno recorded the lowest monthly food inflation rate at -3.54 per cent, while Benue and Bayelsa also posted declines, suggesting lower average food prices compared with May.

Beyond food prices, Niger State recorded the highest year-on-year all-items inflation at 42.23 per cent, followed by Kogi and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The report highlights continuing concerns over Nigeria food inflation, food affordability, household purchasing power and national food security.

What measures do you think could help reduce food inflation and improve affordability across Nigeria?