Following a half-year hiatus, food prices are once again on the rise, surging by 12.12%

Nigeria's annual food inflation rate experienced a reversal, climbing to 12.2 per cent in February from 8.89 per cent in January, primarily due to the rising costs of essential items such as beans, yam flour, and cassava tuber.

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This upward trend was also reflected in the monthly food inflation rate, which rose to 4.69 per cent in February from -6.02 per cent in January, marking a significant shift from the previous two months.

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The National Bureau of Statistics disclosed these findings in its Consumer Price Index report for February, highlighting the fluctuations in the country's inflation rates.

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According to the report, the annual headline inflation rate decreased to 15.06 per cent in February from 15.10 per cent in January, indicating a slight decline in the overall inflation rate.

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The report noted that the headline inflation rate in February 2026 was 11.21 per cent lower than the rate recorded in February 2025, which stood at 26.27 per cent.

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On a month-on-month basis, the headline inflation rate in February 2026 was 2.01 per cent, representing a 4.89 per cent increase from the -2.88 per cent recorded in January 2026.

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The food inflation rate in February 2026 was 12.12 per cent on a year-on-year basis, which is 14.86 per cent points lower than the rate recorded in February 2025.

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The month-on-month food inflation rate in February 2026 was 4.69 per cent, up by 10.70 per cent compared to January 2026, primarily driven by the rising prices of items such as beans, carrots, and yam flour.

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The average annual rate of food inflation for the 12 months ending February 2026 was 19.08 per cent, which is 18.31 per cent points lower than the average annual rate of change recorded in February 2025.

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Kogi State recorded the highest headline and food inflation rates of 23.57 per cent and 26.91 per cent respectively in February, according to the NBS report.

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The report also showed that Benue and Anambra states followed closely, with headline inflation rates of 22.85 per cent and 22.09 per cent respectively, while Katsina, Imo, and Ebonyi states recorded the lowest headline inflation rates.

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In terms of month-on-month inflation, Enugu, Ogun, and Anambra states experienced the highest increases, while Zamfara, Bauchi, and Katsina states recorded a decline in the month-on-month inflation rate.

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Food inflation was highest in Kogi, Adamawa, and Benue states on a year-on-year basis, while Katsina, Bauchi, and Imo states recorded the slowest rise in food inflation.

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On a month-on-month basis, Bayelsa, Ebonyi, and Edo states had the highest food inflation rates in February, while Katsina recorded a decline of -0.70 per cent.