Nigeria inflation drops to 15.39% in August 2026, Lagos leads at 23.7%

Nigeria’s headline inflation eased marginally to 15.39% in August 2026 from 15.43% in July, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. Despite the national dip, inflationary pressures remain high in several states. Lagos recorded the highest headline inflation at 23.7% (up from 16.3% in July), followed by Zamfara at 22.6% and Enugu at 22.1%. Food inflation also accelerated in these states, reaching 30.9% in Lagos, 38.0% in Zamfara and 15.3% in Enugu. Meanwhile, some states saw sharp declines: Adamawa fell by 13.6 points to 19.4% and Anambra dropped 8.0 points to 16.0%. The divergent trends highlight uneven cost-of-living pressures across the country, affecting household budgets, business costs and purchasing power differently by region. Residents in high-inflation states face faster-eroding incomes, while those in declining states may see temporary relief. With inflation still above the Central Bank’s target, real wages are likely under strain, especially in urban centers like Lagos where food and transport costs are rising fastest.

Given these variations, will you revisit your monthly budget to accommodate higher costs in your state, shift spending to cheaper alternatives, or explore additional income streams to cushion the impact?

SOURCE: https://nairametrics.com/2026/09/15/top-10-most-expensive-states-to-live-in-august-2026/