Despite a slight decline in Nigeria’s headline inflation rate, millions of Nigerians across the country continue to grapple with rising living costs, as 19 states and the Federal Capital Territory recorded annual inflation rates above 30 per cent in June 2026. According to the latest Consumer Price Index report released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the national inflation rate eased marginally to 15.91 per cent from 15.93 per cent in May. However, state-by-state figures reveal that inflation remains significantly higher in many parts of the country, highlighting the growing gap between the national average and the realities faced by households.
Niger State recorded the highest annual inflation rate at 42.23 per cent, followed closely by Kogi at 41.59 per cent and the Federal Capital Territory at 39.91 per cent. Other states with inflation above the 30 per cent threshold include Kwara, Plateau, Sokoto, Benue, Osun, Yobe, Kebbi, Enugu, Bauchi, Gombe, Oyo, Lagos, Akwa Ibom, Adamawa, Ekiti, Taraba and Abia. In contrast, Imo posted the lowest inflation rate at 19.47 per cent, followed by Ebonyi and Katsina, though even these figures remain above the national average, underscoring the uneven impact of rising prices across the country.
Food inflation continues to be a major concern for households, with several states recording alarming increases in the cost of essential food items. Kogi led the rankings with an annual food inflation rate of 53.02 per cent, while Niger and Benue followed at 43.83 per cent and 40.83 per cent respectively. The FCT also recorded food inflation above 40 per cent. The NBS attributed the increase in food prices to rising costs of staple products such as tomatoes, fresh pepper, beef, garri, yam flour, cassava flour, bananas and potatoes, all of which have become significantly more expensive in recent months.
The report also revealed sharp differences in monthly price movements across states. Niger recorded the highest month-on-month headline inflation rate at 11.65 per cent, while Katsina and Kwara followed with 8.13 per cent and 7.52 per cent respectively. Meanwhile, Bayelsa, Benue and Cross River experienced the largest monthly declines in inflation, offering some relief to residents. Despite these mixed trends, economists warn that inflationary pressures remain deeply rooted in the economy and continue to strain household budgets nationwide.
Reacting to the latest figures, the Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise, Dr Muda Yusuf, said the modest easing in headline inflation masks the more troubling resurgence of food inflation. He noted that rising food prices remain the biggest threat to household welfare, worsening poverty, food insecurity and the cost-of-living crisis. Yusuf argued that the inflation challenge is driven more by structural issues such as insecurity, high transportation costs, energy expenses, supply chain disruptions and rising production costs than by monetary factors, urging policymakers to focus on reforms that boost food production, improve logistics and lower the cost of doing business.
source: punch
