Many Nigerian states recorded sharp increases in inflation in April 2026 as rising food prices, transportation costs, and energy expenses continued to affect households across the country.
Data released by the National Bureau of Statistics alongside the April inflation report showed that some states experienced significantly higher inflationary pressure than the national average of 15.69 percent.
Analysts say the states most affected were largely those facing higher logistics costs, food supply disruptions, insecurity affecting farming activities, and elevated transportation expenses.
Food inflation remained the strongest driver across many states, particularly in areas heavily dependent on inter-state movement of agricultural produce.
The rising inflation figures reflect the broader economic pressures facing consumers nationwide as fuel costs, electricity expenses, and exchange rate volatility continue to affect prices of goods and services.
Economic experts note that inflationary pressure tends to vary across states depending on local production capacity, transportation infrastructure, insecurity levels, urban demand concentration, and access to stable supply chains.
The latest figures are expected to intensify concerns among policymakers over the cost-of-living situation confronting millions of Nigerians.
Analysts also warn that prolonged inflationary pressure could deepen poverty levels and reduce consumer spending, especially among low-income households.
According to the CPI report for April, month-on-month, the headline index stood at 2.13 per cent compared to 4.18 per cent in March.
Year-on-year, food inflation stood at 16.06 per cent compared to 24.68 per cent in April 2025. However, month-on-month, the food index was 3.63 per cent, representing a 0.54 per cent decline compared to 4.17 per cent in the preceding month.
The statistical agency attributed the moderation in food inflation to changes in average prices of millet whole grain, yam flour, ginger, beef, garri, yam tuber, pepper, cray fish, cassava tuber, beans, Irish potatoes, tomatoes, wheat grain, soy beans, guinea corn, plantain, carrots, among others.
Similarly, core inflation, which excludes the prices of volatile agricultural produce and energy, stood at 15.86 per cent, year-on-year in April compared to 26.05 per cent in the same month of 2025.
However, month-on-month, the core index stood at 1.03 per cent in April, compared to 4.03 per cent in the preceding month.
Year-on-year, urban inflation stood at 15.40 per cent and 1.86 per cent month-on-month in April compared to 3.16 per cent in the preceding month.
Also, rural inflation stood at 16.36 per cent year on year in April, while month-on-month, the index stood at 2.80 per cent from 6.73 per cent in March.
At the state level, year-on-year, headline inflation was highest in Sokoto (25.74 per cent), Bauchi (22.52 per cent), and Zamfara (22.03 per cent), while Edo (5.91 per cent), Borno (6.72 per cent), and Jigawa (7.04 per cent) recorded the lowest rise in prices.
Month-on-month, however, the highest price increases were recorded in Niger (5.66 per cent), Kano (4.50 per cent), and Plateau (4.39 per cent), while Bayelsa (0.64 per cent), Enugu (0.98 per cent), and Rivers (1.02 per cent) recorded the lowest rise.
Year-on-year, food inflation was highest in Enugu (32.67 per cent), Kwara (30.77 per cent), and Adamawa (30.14 per cent), while Borno (1.67 per cent), Jigawa (6.17 per cent), and Taraba (7.19 per cent) recorded the slowest rise in food prices.
Month-on-month, food inflation was highest in Niger (8.53 per cent), Bauchi (6.78 per cent) and Kogi (6.72 per cent), while Kebbi (0.23 per cent), Katsina (0.47 per cent), and Bayelsa (1.29 per cent) recorded the slowest rise in food prices.
The April inflation rise marks the second consecutive monthly increase after Nigeria previously experienced an extended period of inflation moderation.
