Kogi, Niger Tops Nigeria’s Food Inflation Rankings
New NBS figures show food prices surged most in Kogi, Niger and Benue despite slower national inflation in June 2026.
Food inflation in Nigeria remained uneven in June 2026, with Kogi, Niger and Benue recording the highest year-on-year increases, according to the latest National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) report.
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) showed the national food inflation rate stood at 17.52 per cent, lower than the 25.41 per cent recorded in June 2025. However, several states continued to experience sharp increases in the cost of essential food items.
Kogi State recorded the highest annual 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. The NBS linked the rise to higher average prices of products such as crayfish, fresh pepper, fresh tomatoes, dried green peas, yam flour, water yam, beef, bananas, cassava flour, cowpea, garri, Irish potatoes and yam tubers.
On a month-on-month basis, food inflation in Nigeria increased to 3.75 per cent in June from 2.98 per cent in May, showing that food prices rose faster during the month. Despite this increase, the average annual food inflation rate for the 12 months ending June 2026 fell to 16.42 per cent, compared with 31.93 per cent a year earlier.
The report also highlighted major differences across states. Katsina recorded the lowest annual food inflation at 19.15 per cent, while Rivers posted 23.81 per cent and Imo recorded 24.60 per cent.
For monthly food inflation, Katsina led with 16.82 per cent, followed by Kebbi at 9.79 per cent and Niger at 8.96 per cent. In contrast, Borno recorded -3.54 per cent, while Benue and Bayelsa posted -2.36 per cent and -1.34 per cent, indicating lower average food prices than in May.
The report also showed Niger State recorded the highest overall headline inflation rate at 42.23 per cent, ahead of Kogi at 41.59 per cent and the Federal Capital Territory at 39.91 per cent. The latest figures show that food inflation in Nigeria continues to affect states differently, raising concerns about food affordability, household purchasing power and food security.
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