New inflation figures: Food prices jolt Nigerians as hunger bites

New inflation figures: Food prices jolt Nigerians as hunger bites 

 

Just when Nigerian households began to catch their breath, the cost of putting food on the table has surged again—signalling a troubling return of pressure on already strained wallets.

After six consecutive months of easing, food inflation made an abrupt comeback in February, exposing the fragile nature of recent price stability and raising fresh concerns about the cost-of-living outlook.

Latest data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) show that annual food inflation climbed sharply to 12.12 per cent in February from 8.89 per cent in January. On a month-to-month basis, the shift was even more dramatic, swinging from a -6.02 per cent decline in January to a 4.69 per cent increase in February.

Behind the spike is a familiar story: rising prices of staple foods that form the backbone of everyday meals. Items such as beans, yam flour, cassava tuber, crayfish, millet flour and ogbono recorded notable increases, effectively pushing food costs higher across markets.

The rebound paints a stark contrast to the broader inflation picture. While headline inflation edged down marginally to 15.06 per cent in February from 15.10 per cent in January, the relief appears superficial as month-on-month figures reveal a renewed acceleration in price growth.

In practical terms, this means that although inflation is slowing on paper compared to last year, Nigerians are once again paying more for goods—especially food—than they did just a month ago.

 

A deeper look at regional data underscores the uneven burden. Kogi State emerged as the hardest hit, recording the highest food inflation rate at 26.91 per cent, followed by Adamawa and Benue. At the other end, states like Katsina, Bauchi and Imo posted relatively slower increases, offering limited pockets of relief.

The reversal in food inflation trend raises critical questions about supply stability, market dynamics and the sustainability of recent gains. For millions of households, however, the implications are immediate and personal: the brief respite at the market may already be over.

As food prices climb again, the struggle to afford basic meals is tightening its grip—reminding policymakers that the battle against inflation is far from won.