Nigeria's Food Inflation Surges to 12.12% in February 2026

In February 2026, Nigeria's food inflation rate reached 12.12%, a notable increase from 8.89% in January 2026, representing a 3.23 percentage point rise month-on-month, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). This increase indicates a rebound from January's historically low food inflation, although it remains significantly lower than the 26.98% recorded in February 2025.

The average annual food inflation rate for the twelve months ending February 2026 stood at 19.08%, sharply down from 37.40% a year earlier. The report highlights that food inflation varies widely across states, with Kogi having the highest rate at 26.91%, followed by Adamawa at 23.12% and Benue at 21.89%.

In contrast, Katsina recorded the slowest rise at 5.09%. The overall Consumer Price Index (CPI) report for February reflects a mixed inflation picture, with food prices continuing to exert significant pressure on Nigeria's inflation dynamics.