The Centre for the Promotion of Non-public Enterprise (CPPE) has referred to as on the Federal Authorities to urgently implement focused measures to protect farmers from the unintended penalties of falling meals costs, as Nigeria’s headline inflation eased to fifteen.10% in January 2026.
In a newly launched coverage transient, the CPPE emphasised that whereas the moderation in costs is a win for family welfare, it poses a major risk to rural livelihoods.
The assume tank argues that the federal government should now pivot towards defending farm incomes to make sure that the present disinflation doesn’t result in a future manufacturing collapse.
What they’re saying
The CPPE recommends a multi-pronged method to maintain meals affordability with out bankrupting the Nigerian farmer.
This contains the introduction of minimal assured costs for chosen crops and the growth of agro-processing capability to soak up surplus output that might in any other case rot or be offered at a loss.
- “There’s a vital have to stability shopper affordability with producer sustainability to safeguard nationwide meals safety,” the report acknowledged.
- “Sustained weak spot in farm-gate costs could discourage agricultural manufacturing, doubtlessly creating future provide shortages and renewed inflation pressures.”
Past worth flooring, the CPPE urged the federal government to strengthen strategic reserves and supply productiveness help to assist farmers keep margins at the same time as market costs cool.
Backstory
The January 2026 figures from the Nationwide Bureau of Statistics (NBS) mark a stark distinction to the 27.61% headline inflation recorded only one 12 months prior.
Notably, meals inflation has plummeted to eight.89% year-on-year, with month-on-month meals costs really turning unfavorable at -6.02%.
Based on the CPPE, this shift is geographically widespread, with rural inflation falling to 14.44%, suggesting the emergence of “actual disinflation slightly than momentary worth volatility.”
Extra insights
Whereas the decline in core inflation (now at 17.72%) offers the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) with room for “cautious and gradual financial easing,” the CPPE warned that the method should stay data-driven.
For the personal sector, the report suggests a shift in technique. With the period of passing excessive prices to customers doubtlessly ending, companies should now prioritize effectivity and scale.
- “Disinflation reduces the flexibility of corporations to depend on worth will increase for income development, thereby rising the significance of value effectivity, productiveness, and scale,” the CPPE famous.
The transient concluded that whereas the present pattern alerts a significant transition towards macroeconomic stabilization, the “central coverage precedence” have to be to guard the agricultural engine of the financial system.
By addressing structural constraints like transport prices and safety, which preserve inflation excessive in states like Benue and Kogi, the federal government can rework this momentary worth aid into long-term, inclusive development.
What it’s best to know
The Nationwide Bureau of Statistics (NBS) report additionally confirmed a contraction in costs in comparison with the earlier month. Inflation stood at –2.88% month on month in January 2026, in comparison with 0.54% in December 2025, representing a drop of three.42 share factors.
Based on the NBS, this means that the overall worth degree declined in January, which means the common value of products and providers fell relative to December.
Regardless of the latest easing, the broader inflation pattern stays elevated. The share change within the common Shopper Value Index for the twelve months ending January 2026 was 21.97%, in comparison with the earlier twelve-month interval.
This represents a 4.37 share level improve from the 17.59% recorded in January 2025, exhibiting that underlying worth pressures over the previous 12 months stay vital.
