Nigeria’s imported meals value index recorded an annual expansion price of 9.19% in September 2026, its slowest tempo since March, in keeping with calculations in line with the newest Nationwide Bureau of Statistics (NBS) knowledge.
The index rose to 135.5 in September from 124.1 within the corresponding month of 2025, representing a year-on-year build up of 9.19%. This was once less than the 12.83% recorded in August and the new height of 14.60% in Might.
On a month-on-month foundation, the index greater through 0.07% in September, slowing from 0.89% in August and 1.21% in July.
The moderation comes as Nigeria continues to spend closely on meals imports, whilst issues over home agricultural manufacturing and family meals safety persist.
Imported meals inflation slows for 4 months
The most recent figures display that annual expansion within the imported meals value index has eased since attaining 14.60% in Might 2026. Even though the index persisted to upward push, the tempo of annual expansion slowed over the next 4 months.
The index additionally recorded a per thirty days build up of simply 0.07% in September, suggesting that imported meals costs had been slightly solid when compared with previous months.
- Annual expansion declined to 13.62% in June from 14.60% in Might.
- It eased additional to 13.25% in July and 12.83% in August.
- The velocity fell to 9.19% in September, when compared with 7.20% in March.
- The index greater from 120.0 in January 2026 to 135.5 in September, appearing that the slowdown in inflation didn’t imply imported meals costs had fallen total.
The figures point out that imported meals costs persisted to upward push over the yr, however at a slower price than previous in 2026.
Nigeria’s meals import invoice stays top
The moderation in imported meals inflation comes amid considerable spending on meals and beverage imports. Nairametrics previous reported that Nigeria spent N3.30 trillion on meals and beverage imports within the first part of 2026, with expenditure emerging sharply in the second one quarter.
Nigeria’s reliance on imported meals stays a priority as families face drive over meals affordability and policymakers search to support home manufacturing.
The United International locations Meals and Agriculture Group (FAO) has warned that about 34.7 million Nigerians could face severe food insecurity during the next lean season, highlighting the demanding situations going through family get entry to to meals.
Nairametrics additionally reported that Nigeria may just face a serious meals disaster in 2026 as emerging manufacturing prices, lack of confidence and post-harvest losses threaten agricultural output. Farmers, specifically within the North-Central and North-West, had been reported to be making an allowance for leaving the sphere as a result of those demanding situations.
Meals inflation eases as headline price falls
Nigeria’s headline inflation price eased to 14.63% in September 2026, down from 15.39% in August, extending the rustic’s disinflation development for a fourth consecutive month.
Consistent with the NBS, meals inflation stood at 19.59% year-on-year in September, when compared with 20.16% in September 2025. On a month-on-month foundation, meals inflation fell to -1.55% from 1.02% in August, a decline of two.57 proportion issues.
The imported meals value index supplies a separate measure of value actions in imported meals merchandise. Its slower annual expansion coincides with the decline in headline and per thirty days meals inflation, even if the figures don’t determine that every one meals pieces have grow to be inexpensive for shoppers.