Rising Food Prices Weaken Nigeria’s Disinflation Gains

Nigeria’s recent progress in slowing inflation is facing renewed pressure as rising food prices continue to weigh heavily on households and threaten to weaken the country’s disinflation gains.
Food remains a major driver of inflationary pressure, with higher prices for staples such as rice, maize, bread, vegetables and other essential commodities increasing the cost of living for millions of Nigerians.
Although the broader inflation trend has shown signs of moderation, the persistent rise in food prices means many households are yet to feel meaningful relief. Low-income families, who spend a large share of their earnings on food, remain particularly vulnerable.
Analysts say the continued pressure on food prices could slow the pace of disinflation if supply constraints, transportation costs, insecurity affecting farming communities and other structural challenges are not addressed.
The development also highlights the need for stronger measures to boost domestic food production, improve agricultural productivity and strengthen supply chains across the country.
For consumers, the combination of high food prices and other living costs continues to put pressure on disposable income, forcing many households to reduce consumption or switch to cheaper alternatives.
Economists have therefore stressed that sustaining Nigeria’s disinflation will require more than monetary policy measures, with coordinated efforts needed to tackle the structural factors driving food inflation.