Nigeria’s headline inflation rate rose to 15.69% in April 2026, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The figure, released in the NBS Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Inflation Report, marks a 0.31 percentage point increase from the 15.38% recorded in March.
On a year-on-year basis, the April headline inflation of 15.69% is lower than the 26.82% reported in April 2025, showing a moderating trend in overall price growth. Meanwhile, month-on-month inflation stood at 2.13%, down from 4.18% in March 2026, reflecting a slower pace in the rise of average prices.
The NBS identified food and non-alcoholic beverages, restaurants and accommodation services, and transport as the main drivers of inflation over the year. The Consumer Price Index climbed to 138.3 in April, up from 135.4 in March 2026.
Food inflation rose to 16.06% year-on-year in April, lower than the 24.68% recorded in April 2025. Month-on-month, food prices increased by 3.63%, down from 4.17% in March. The bureau cited rising costs of millet, yam flour, ginger, beef, garri, beans, and tomatoes as key contributors.
Core inflation, which excludes volatile agricultural products and energy prices, stood at 15.86% year-on-year, down from 26.05% in April 2025. On a monthly basis, core inflation was 1.03% in April, compared to 4.03% in March.
Urban areas recorded a year-on-year inflation rate of 15.40%, while rural areas were slightly higher at 16.36%. Sokoto had the highest headline inflation at 25.74%, followed by Bauchi and **Zamfara, Edo State recorded the lowest at 5.91%, trailed by Borno and Jigawa.
For **food inflation, Enugu saw the sharpest increase at 32.67%, with Kwara and Adamawa following.
The NBS report indicates that while inflation continues to rise, the pace of price growth has slowed, offering a cautiously optimistic outlook for Nigeria’s economy
