Inflation Remains Above 30% in 19 States, FCT Despite Slight National Decline
By Nafiu Muhammad Lema
Nigeria’s headline inflation rate eased marginally to 15.91 per cent in June 2026, down from 15.93 per cent in May, according to the latest Consumer Price Index released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
However, a state-by-state analysis shows that inflationary pressures remain severe across much of the country, with 19 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) recording annual inflation rates above 30 per cent.
Niger State recorded the highest inflation rate at 42.23 per cent, followed by Kogi (41.59 per cent) and the FCT (39.91 per cent). Other states with inflation above 30 per cent include Kwara, Plateau, Sokoto, Benue, Osun, Yobe, Kebbi, Enugu, Bauchi, Gombe, Oyo, Lagos, Akwa Ibom, Adamawa, Ekiti, Taraba and Abia.
On the other hand, Imo State recorded the lowest annual inflation rate at 19.47 per cent, followed by Ebonyi (20.79 per cent) and Katsina (21.87 per cent).
Food prices also remained a major concern. Kogi posted the highest annual food inflation rate at 53.02 per cent, while Niger (43.83 per cent) and Benue (40.83 per cent) followed closely. Sokoto recorded 37.01 per cent food inflation, while Kebbi stood at 37.59 per cent.
The NBS attributed the continued rise in food prices to increases in the cost of key food items, including tomatoes, fresh pepper, beef, garri, yam, cassava flour, cowpea, bananas and Irish potatoes.
Commenting on the figures, the Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), Dr. Muda Yusuf, said the slight decline in headline inflation reflects relative stability, but warned that rising food inflation remains the greatest challenge facing Nigerian households.
He noted that insecurity, high transport and energy costs, expensive farm inputs, supply chain disruptions and imported inflation continue to fuel rising prices, urging the government to prioritise structural reforms that will boost food production, reduce logistics costs and improve productivity rather than relying solely on tighter monetary policies.
The latest figures indicate that although national inflation has eased slightly, millions of Nigerians continue to face high living costs, particularly in states where inflation remains well above 30 per cent.
