Abuja, Nigeria – Nigeria’s food inflation rate rose to 12.12 percent year-on-year in February 2026, up from 8.89 percent in January. This ended a brief single-digit streak after 128 months. The National Bureau of Statistics reported the jump, driven by higher prices in West Africa’s largest economy.
The month-on-month rise hit 4.69 percent. Key items like beans, cassava, yam flour, and crayfish led gains. Still, February’s rate sits 14.86 points below February 2025’s 26.98 percent.
Okay News reports the broader trend. The average annual food inflation for 12 months to February eased to 19.08 percent from 37.40 percent last year. This shows cooling over time despite short-term spikes.
State variations stood out. Kogi topped year-on-year rates at 26.91 percent, followed by Adamawa at 23.12 percent. Katsina saw the slowest rise at 5.09 percent. Bayelsa led monthly increases at 8.81 percent.
Headline inflation dipped slightly to 15.06 percent from 15.10 percent. Food and non-alcoholic beverages drove 6.03 points of that total. Core inflation eased to 15.88 percent year-on-year.
January’s drop marked the lowest in 174 months. February reversed course amid commodity pressures. Policymakers track supply chains for stability.
Consumers feel mixed relief. Annual moderation aids planning, but fresh rises hit budgets. Government eyes harvests and imports to tame costs.
