Nigerians Still Struggling as Food Inflation Wipes Out Reform Gains
Although Nigeria’s economy shows signs of recovery under recent reforms, the World Bank says many citizens haven’t benefited largely because food costs have soared. The October 2025 Nigeria Development Update reports that the cost of a basic food basket has increased fivefold since 2019, disproportionately hitting the poor, who may spend up to 70 % of their income on food.
The report recommends urgent removal of trade barriers (import bans, excessive duties) and overcoming supply chain obstacles such as poor roads, weak storage, power outages, and logistical constraints to bring down food prices.
High food inflation is not unique to Nigeria. Across low-income countries, domestic food price inflation remains stubborn. In Nigeria, recent data shows food inflation at about 21.9 % in August 2025 year on year. The general inflation rate eased slightly to 21.88 % in July 2025 from 22.22 % in June, but the pressure from food prices persists.
This story noted that Nigeria’s sharp reforms removing petrol subsidies, cutting electricity subsidies, and devaluing the naira had fueled price pressures even as growth improved.
