Nigeria’s Food Inflation Falls to 16.87% in September as Maize and Grain Prices Ease
Story: written by Okafor Joseph October 16,2025
Nigeria’s food inflation rate dropped sharply to 16.87% in September 2025, down from 21.87% in August, driven largely by a decline in the prices of maize, grains, and other key staples.
According to the latest data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Wednesday, food inflation decreased by 1.57% month-on-month, indicating that food supply outpaced demand during the period — a trend linked to ongoing harvests across major agricultural belts.
The report also revealed that the nation’s headline inflation slowed to 18.02% in September, compared to 20.12% in August, reflecting a broader easing of price pressures in the economy.
NBS attributed the moderation in food prices to reduced costs of maize, garri, beans, millet, potatoes, eggs, fresh tomatoes, and peppers. Analysts say the harvest season contributed significantly to this relief, especially in northern and central states where grain output has surged.
However, year-on-year analysis shows that some states still experience high food inflation. Ekiti (28.68%), Rivers (24.18%), and Nasarawa (22.74%) recorded the highest figures, suggesting uneven recovery in food prices across the country.
Economists note that the continued improvement in food supply could help stabilise inflation in the coming months — provided transportation costs, fuel prices, and insecurity in farming regions remain under control.
