Nigeria's food inflation rate rose sharply to 20.31% year-on-year in July 2026, reaching its highest level since September 2025, even as the country's overall inflation rate continued to slow.
The latest figures, released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in its Consumer Price Index (CPI) report, showed that headline inflation fell to 15.43% in July from 15.91% recorded in June.
The latest data highlights a growing gap between overall inflation and the prices Nigerians pay for food, suggesting that many households are yet to experience meaningful relief from the rising cost of living.
Food prices continue upward trend
According to the NBS, food inflation accelerated significantly from 17.52% in June to 20.31% in July, marking the highest level recorded in almost a year.
The latest increase follows several months of steady growth after food inflation reached its lowest point earlier this year.
After standing at 20.16% in September 2025, food inflation gradually declined to 16.30% in October, 14.21% in November, 10.84% in December, and 8.89% in January 2026.
However, the trend reversed in February.
Food inflation climbed to 12.21% in February, 14.31% in March, 16.06% in April, 16.96% in May, 17.52% in June, before rising sharply to 20.31% in July.
The figures indicate renewed pressure on food prices despite improvements in the country's broader inflation outlook.
Headline inflation records another decline
While food prices continued to increase, Nigeria's overall inflation maintained a downward trend.
The NBS reported that headline inflation dropped by 0.48 percentage points to 15.43% in July, compared with 15.91% in June.
Urban inflation stood at 16.12% year-on-year, while the month-on-month urban inflation rate declined to 1.90%, down from 2.13% recorded in June.
The 12-month average urban inflation rate was 16.81%, representing a significant improvement from 30.74% recorded during the same period in 2025.
In rural communities, inflation stood at 13.77% year-on-year.
However, the rural month-on-month inflation rate increased slightly to 0.78% in July from 0.52% in June.
The 12-month average rural inflation rate settled at 16.72%, considerably lower than the 27.05% recorded a year earlier.
Government measures yet to ease food costs
The rise in food inflation comes despite several Federal Government interventions aimed at reducing the cost of essential goods.
Earlier in July, the government introduced lower import duties on selected food items and passenger vehicles under the 2026 Fiscal Policy Measures, approved by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele.
The policy forms part of wider efforts to reduce living costs and improve access to essential commodities.
Trade statistics from the NBS also showed that Nigeria imported N1.393 trillion worth of food and beverages between January and March 2026, compared with N1.671 trillion during the same period in 2025.
The figures represent a 16.7% year-on-year decline in food and beverage imports.
Agricultural reforms target long-term food security
The Federal Government has also continued to pursue long-term agricultural reforms aimed at increasing domestic food production.
In June 2024, President Bola Tinubu approved a six-month suspension of import duties on staple food items, medicines and other essential goods to cushion the impact of inflation.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) also disclosed that the country spent $2.34 billion on food imports in 2025, underlining Nigeria's continued dependence on imported food.
More recently, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, unveiled the National Agricultural Mechanisation Policy and the National Agricultural Mechanisation Investment Strategy.
The initiative includes plans to establish a mega tractor assembly plant capable of producing between 2,000 and 4,000 tractors annually, with the aim of improving mechanised farming, increasing agricultural productivity and strengthening Nigeria's food security.
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