Why food prices remain high despite government interventions and the ongoing harvest

Food prices in Nigeria remain high despite the ongoing harvest and federal measures to support farmers, including the distribution of farm inputs and fertiliser. Farmers, traders and consumers point to transport costs, delayed input deliveries, inadequate storage and insecurity in some farming areas. Annual food inflation was 19.59% in September 2026, up slightly from 19.57% in August, while the food index fell 1.55% month on month. Lagos recorded the highest annual food inflation at 34.40%, followed by Imo at 33.79% and Ondo at 31.49%.