Nigeria’s Inflation Eases To fifteen.1% In January As Meals Costs Decline
Nigeria’s headline inflation price moderated to fifteen.1 p.c in January 2026, down barely from 15.15 p.c recorded in December 2025, in response to the newest Shopper Value Index (CPI) report launched by the Nationwide Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Monday.
“The January 2026 Headline inflation price confirmed a lower of 0.05% in comparison with the December 2025 Headline inflation price,” the NBS stated.
“On a year-on-year foundation, the Headline inflation price was 12.51% decrease than the speed recorded in January 2025 (27.61%). This reveals that the Headline inflation price (year-on-year foundation) decreased in January 2026 in comparison with the identical month within the previous yr (i.e., January 2025).
“On a month-on-month foundation, the Headline inflation price in January 2026 was -2.88%, which was 3.42% decrease than the speed recorded in December 2025 (0.54%).
“Which means in January 2026, the speed of improve within the common worth degree was decrease than the speed of improve within the common worth degree in December 2025.”
Meals inflation additionally recorded a considerable slowdown. On a year-on-year foundation, the meals inflation price stood at 8.89 p.c in January 2026, down from 29.63 p.c in December 2025 — a lower of 20.74 share factors.
Month-on-month, meals inflation declined by 6.02 p.c, in comparison with -0.36 p.c in December 2025. The NBS attributed the drop to falling common costs of key meals objects together with water yam, eggs, inexperienced peas, groundnut oil, soya beans, palm oil, maize, guinea corn, beans, beef, melon (egusi), cassava tuber, and cowpeas.
The typical annual price of meals inflation for the twelve months ending January 2026 stood at 20.29 p.c, which was 18.18 share factors decrease than the 38.47 p.c recorded in January 2025.
On a year-on-year foundation, Kogi recorded the best meals inflation price at 19.84 p.c, adopted by Benue at 18.38 p.c and Adamawa at 17.29 p.c.
In distinction, Ebonyi (1.69 p.c), Abia (3.23 p.c), and Imo (3.74 p.c) posted the slowest will increase in meals costs over the identical interval.
On a month-on-month foundation, Imo (-1.26 p.c), Akwa Ibom (-2.21 p.c), and Zamfara (-2.96 p.c) recorded the best meals inflation charges. In the meantime, Yobe (-11.88 p.c), Nasarawa (-9.06 p.c), and Sokoto (-8.31 p.c) skilled probably the most vital month-on-month declines in meals inflation.
The newest figures counsel easing worth pressures firstly of 2026, significantly within the meals sector, providing cautious optimism for customers and policymakers in search of sustained {economic} stability.
Melissa Enoch
Times Nigeria