By Abubakar Yunusa
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) says Nigeria’s headline inflation rate was 15.69 percent in April 2026 — up from 15.38 percent in March.
The NBS announced the increase in its consumer price index (CPI) report on Friday.
The agency said the April 2026 headline inflation rate showed “an increase of 0.31% compared to the March 2026 Headline inflation rate”.
“On a month-on-month basis, the Headline inflation rate in April 2026 was 2.13%, which was 2.05% lower than the rate recorded in March 2026 (4.18%).
“This means that in April 2026, the rate of increase in the average price level was lower than the rate of increase in the average price level in March 2026.”
FOOD INFLATION ROSE TO 16%
The data body also said the food inflation rate for April was 16.06 percent year-on-year.
According to the statistics firm, food inflation rate stood at 24.68 percent in the same month of the preceding year (April 2025).
“On a month-on-month basis, the Food inflation rate in April 2026 was 3.63%, down by 0.54% points from March 2026 (4.17%),” NBS said.
“This can be attributed to the rate of change in the average prices of the following products: Millet Whole grain, Yam Flour, Ginger (Fresh), Beef, Garri, Yam Tuber, Pepper (Fresh), Cray Fish, Cassava Tuber, Beans, Irish Potatoes, Toma-toes (Fresh), Wheat Grain (Sold loose), Soy Beans, Guinea Corn, Plantain, Carrots (Fresh) etc.”
The bureau further said food inflation, on a year-on-year basis, was highest in Enugu (32.67 percent), Kwara (30.77 percent), and Adamawa (30.14 percent).
On the other hand, Borno (1.67 percent), Jigawa (6.17 percent) and Taraba (7.19 percent) recorded the slowest rise in food inflation on a year-on-year basis.
“On a month-on-month basis, however, April 2026 Food inflation was highest in Niger (8.53%), Bauchi (6.78%) and Kogi (6.72%),” NBS said.
The statistics firm also said Kebbi (0.23 percent), Katsina (0.47 percent), and Bayelsa (1.29 percent) recorded the slowest rise in food inflation on a month-on-month basis.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is targeting a single-digit inflation rate of between 6 percent to 9 percent.
The regulator recently engaged state governments, warning that uncoordinated and expansionary fiscal actions could undermine Nigeria’s transition to an inflation-targeting monetary policy framework.
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