Food Inflation in Nigeria Rises to 12.12% in February

Nigeria’s food inflation accelerated sharply in February, rising to 12.2 per cent annually from 8.89 per cent in January, according to official data. The increase signals renewed pressure on household budgets for essential consumables.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported that the surge was primarily driven by higher prices for staples such as beans, yam flour, cassava tuber, crayfish, and other items. On a monthly basis, food inflation reversed a two-month decline, jumping to 4.69 per cent in February from -6.02 per cent in January—a significant swing of more than 10 percentage points.

Meanwhile, the broader headline inflation rate edged down marginally to 15.06 per cent in February from 15.10 per cent in January. This modest decline masks divergent trends: while the year-on-year headline rate fell sharply compared to February 2025 (26.27 per cent), the month-on-month rate rose to 2.01 per cent, up from -2.88 per cent in the prior month.

The food inflation rate for February stood at 12.12 per cent year-on-year, a substantial decrease from 26.98 per cent in the same month last year. However, the month-on-month food inflation rate climbed to 4.69 per cent, highlighting volatile short-term price movements. Over the past 12 months, the average food inflation rate was 19.08 per cent, down from 37.40 per cent a year earlier.

Regional disparities remain pronounced. Kogi State recorded the highest headline inflation at 23.57 per cent and the highest food inflation at 26.91 per cent year-on-year. Other states with elevated headline inflation included Benue and Anambra, while Katsina, Imo, and Ebonyi saw the lowest increases. On a monthly basis, Enugu, Ogun, and Anambra experienced the sharpest headline inflation rises, whereas Zamfara, Bauchi, and Katsina recorded declines.

The data emerges against a backdrop of climbing global crude oil prices. Brent crude rose 3.67 per cent to $103.39 per barrel, reflecting geopolitical tensions that could further influence domestic fuel and transportation costs.

The latest figures underscore a complex inflation landscape: while annual rates have moderated from previous highs, monthly food price movements remain unpredictable and geographically uneven. For Nigerian consumers, the resurgence in monthly food inflation directly impacts daily expenses, despite longer-term improvements. Economists will monitor whether this uptick is temporary or part of a broader reversal, especially as energy prices contribute to production and logistics costs across the economy.