A new report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has revealed that Benue State, once celebrated as Nigeria’s “food basket,” now bears the heaviest burden of food inflation in the country.
In April 2025, the state recorded a staggering 51.8% year-on-year surge in food prices the highest rate nationwide.
The spike underscores worsening economic hardship in the state and raises concerns about deep-rooted structural and security challenges plaguing food production and distribution across Nigeria.
Following Benue, other states with sharp food price hikes include Ekiti (34%), Kebbi (33.8%), Kaduna (32.9%), and Osun (32.4%), while Plateau, another critical food-producing state in the Middle Belt, reported a 30.5% rise.
In contrast, some southern and northeastern states recorded significantly lower inflation rates. Ebonyi (7.2%), Adamawa (9.5%), and Ogun (9.9%) had the lowest food inflation figures, highlighting stark regional disparities in food access and affordability.
Experts have warned that the continued surge in food prices could have devastating consequences for public health and economic stability.
The NBS data also showed that urban centers such as Lagos (20%) and the Federal Capital Territory (22.2%) are not immune to the pressure, although their inflation rates are comparatively lower than in food-producing states.
