Food Prices Drive Nigeria’s Inflation Higher in April 2026, Households Face Renewed Pressure

Questions answered in this article:

—Why is Nigeria’s inflation rate increasing again in April 2026?

—How are rising food prices affecting Nigerian households and the agriculture sector?

Nigeria’s inflation rate increased again in April 2026, with rising food prices emerging as the biggest pressure point for households and the agricultural sector.

According to the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) data, headline inflation rose to 15.69% in April from 15.38% recorded in March 2026. The CPI also climbed to 138.3 points from 135.4, reflecting a continued increase in the general price level across the economy.

Although inflation remains significantly lower than the 26.82% recorded in April 2025, food prices are once again accelerating faster than overall inflation. Food inflation stood at 16.06% in April, surpassing the headline inflation rate for the first time in eight months.

The latest figures suggest that food costs are becoming the dominant driver of inflation despite broader moderation in consumer prices over the past year.

Staple Foods Push Inflation Higher

Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed that food and non-alcoholic beverages contributed the largest share to headline inflation at 6.40 percentage points. Restaurants and accommodation services followed with 3.56 points, while transport accounted for 1.70 points.

The increase in food inflation was linked to rising prices of key staples, including millet, yam flour, fresh ginger, beef, garri, cassava tubers, beans, tomatoes, wheat grain, soybeans, crayfish, plantain, and fresh pepper.

On a month-on-month basis, food inflation slowed slightly to 3.63% in April from 4.17% in March. However, prices are still rising quickly enough to strain household budgets, especially in rural communities where inflation reached 16.36%, higher than the urban inflation rate of 15.40%.

Mixed Signals Across Nigeria’s Food Markets

Recent food price data reflect the mixed conditions in Nigeria’s markets. While commodities such as eggs, beans, garri, and onions recorded sharp year-on-year declines compared to 2025 levels, many still posted monthly increases in March and April, indicating continued short-term volatility.

State-level pressures also remain severe. Enugu recorded the highest food inflation rate at 32.67%, followed by Kwara and Adamawa. Monthly, Niger, Bauchi, and Kogi experienced the sharpest increases in food prices.

The latest inflation trend highlights ongoing challenges facing Nigeria’s food supply chain, including production costs, transportation expenses, and market instability.

Conclusion

Despite improvements compared to the inflation crisis of 2025, rising food prices continue to weigh heavily on Nigerian households and businesses. The renewed surge in food inflation above headline inflation signals that affordability challenges remain far from over. Analysts say improving agricultural productivity, reducing post-harvest losses, and easing logistics costs will be critical to stabilising food prices and protecting consumers in the months ahead.