Food Inflation Eases to 19.59% as Lagos, Imo, Ondo Top State Ranking

Nigeria's food inflation rate fell to 19.59% in September 2026, down from 20.16% in the same month of 2025, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). On a month-on-month basis, food inflation dropped to -1.55% in September from 1.02% in August, meaning average food prices actually declined during the month.

The national figure hides sharp differences across states. Lagos, Imo and Ondo recorded the highest annual food inflation rates in the country, while Taraba and Yobe posted negative rates, indicating food prices were lower than a year earlier.

Where food prices rose fastest

Lagos recorded the highest annual food inflation rate at 34.4%. Imo followed at 33.8%, with Ondo at 31.5% and Delta at 30.6%. Benue came next at 27.3%.

The top 10 states with the highest annual food inflation rates in September 2026 were:

Lagos: 34.4%
Imo: 33.8%
Ondo: 31.5%
Delta: 30.6%
Benue: 27.3%
Rivers: 26.8%
Ebonyi: 25.7%
Osun: 25.2%
Oyo: 24.5%
Ogun: 24.2%

Taraba, Yobe lead the lowest ranks

At the other end of the ranking, Taraba recorded the lowest annual food inflation rate at -7.5%, followed by Yobe at -0.4%. Borno recorded 2.2%, while Bauchi and Nasarawa both posted 5.3%.

The 10 states with the lowest food inflation rates in September 2026 were:

Taraba: -7.5%
Yobe: -0.4%
Borno: 2.2%
Bauchi: 5.3%
Nasarawa: 5.3%
Kebbi: 5.4%
Sokoto: 6.1%
Jigawa: 8.1%
Kogi: 8.6%
Bayelsa: 9.3%

Rice prices also fell

The moderation in food prices showed up in staple food prices too. Rice prices dropped across all major categories in September 2026, with month-on-month declines for Nigerian manufactured, imported long-grain, and imported short-grain rice across multiple bag sizes and retail measures.

Imported long-grain rice recorded the sharpest fall. Its 50kg average price dropped from N56,093.75 in August to N54,328.13 in September, a reduction of N1,765.62 or 3.1%. Nigerian-manufactured rice in the same size fell from N52,250 to N51,571.43, while imported short-grain rice declined from N52,300 to N50,950.

The NBS also reported that September's headline inflation rate dropped to 14.63%.

What it means for Nigerians

The month-on-month decline of -1.55% in food prices offers some relief to households that have spent the better part of two years absorbing rising costs for staples. But the relief is uneven. Food inflation remains above 30% in Lagos, Imo, Ondo and Delta on an annual basis, so consumers in those states are still paying far more than they did a year ago even as the national average cools.

For traders and food businesses in the northern states posting negative rates, the pressure is coming from the other direction: prices are falling year on year, which compresses margins on stock bought at higher costs.