Nigeria’s headline inflation rate rose to 15.38% in March 2026, reflecting a modest increase from the 15.06% recorded in February.

This is according to the latest data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased to 135.4 in March 2026, reflecting a 5.4-point increase from the preceding month (130.0).

In March 2026, the headline inflation rate rose to 15.38%, up from 15.06% in February 2026 and stood 27.35% in the same month of the preceding year (March 2025).

Looking at the movement, the March 2026 headline inflation rate showed an increase of 0.32% compared to that recorded in February 2026.

However, on a month-on-month basis, the rate in March 2026 was 4.18%, which was 2.17% higher than the rate recorded in February 2026 (2.01%).

The percentage change in the average CPI for the twelve months ending March 2026 over the average for the previous twelve-month period was 20.05%, showing a 1.48% increase compared to 18.58% recorded in March 2025.

On a year-on-year basis, in March 2026, the Urban inflation rate was 14.64%. On a month-on-month basis, the Urban inflation rate was 3.16% in March 2026, up by 0.61% compared to February 2026 (2.55%).

The corresponding twelve-month average for the Urban inflation rate was 20.04% in March 2026. This was 0.06% points lower compared to the 20.10% reported in March 2025.

Rural inflation rate in March 2026 was 17.22% on a year-on-year basis.

On a month-on-month ba sis, the Rural inflation rate in March 2026 was 6.73%, up by 6.02% compared to February 2026 (0,71%).

The corresponding twelve-month average for the Rural inflation rate in March 2026 was 19.74%. This was 2.93% points higher compared to the 16.81% recorded in March 2025.

The food inflation rate in the month under review was 14.31% on a year-on-year basis and stood at 25.22% in the same month of the preceding year (March 2025).

However, on a month-on-month basis, food inflation rate in March 2026 was 4.17%, down 0.52 percentage points from February 2026 (4.69%).

The drop was attributed to the rate of change in the average prices of the following products: Yam, Ginger (Fresh), Cassava Tuber, Groundnuts (Shelled), Irish Potatoes, Avenger (Ogbono/Apon) – Dried Ungrinded, Toma toes (fresh), Cassava Flour sold loose, etc.

NBS said average annual rate of Food inflation for the twelve months ending March 2026 over the previous twelve-month average was 18.21%, which was 17.81% points lower compared with the average annual rate of change recorded in March 2025 (36.02%).

The “All items less farm produces and energy” or Core inflation, which excludes the prices of volatile agricultural produce and energy, stood at 16.21% in March 2026 on a year-on-year basis; a decline of 10.91% points when compared to the 27.12% recorded in March 2025.

On a month-on-month basis, the core inflation rate was 4.03% in March 2026, up by 3.14% points compared to Feb ruary 2026 (0.89%).

The average twelve-month annual inflation rate was 21.09% for the twelve months ending March 2026, which was 6.25% points lower than the 27.34% recorded in March 2025.

On a state level, headline inflation was highest in Bayelsa Year-on-Year with (27.37%), Sokoto (26.03%), and Bauchi (23.67%), while Osun (5.25%), Kano (9.85%), and Kaduna (10.38%) recorded the lowest rise.

On a Month-on-Month basis, however, March 2026 recorded the highest increases in Zamfara (10.77%), Bauchi (9.37%), and Sokoto (9.05%), while Lagos (1.54%), Akwa Ibom (1.80%), and Rivers (1.89%) recorded the lowest rise in the Month-on-Month inflation.

Food inflation was highest in Bayelsa (33.35%), Sokoto (28.02%), and Adamawa (21.67%), while Kano (4.29%), Oyo (4.86%), and Katsina (7.48%) recorded the slowest rise on a Year-on-Year basis.

On a Month-on-Month basis, however, March 2026 food inflation was highest in Sokoto (11.78%), Niger (8.59%), and Gombe (8.10%), while Katsina (0.09%), Ogun (0.77%), and Adamawa (1.30%) recorded the slowest rise in Food inflation on a Month-on-Month basis.

The First Lady of Lagos State, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu on Wednesday hailed First Responders in the health and safety agencies in the state as ‘silent heroes ‘ for their roles in quick response to emergencies in the state.

Sanwo-Olu represented by Mrs Olayemi Oke-Osanyintolu spoke alongside others at the inaugural two-day Lagos State Health Professionals Development Conference organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations held in Lagos with the theme ‘ Excellence, Resilience and Readiness: Best Practices in Health Support for First Responders.

The First Lady noted that emergency first responders: put their lives at risk for the safety and wellbeing of others adding that there is need for the government to strengthen their capacity and improve their welfare.

“First responders are indeed the silent heroes of our society. They are the first to arrive in emergencies, often placing themselves in harm’s way to save lives, preserve property, and restore hope. Your role transcends professional duty; it is deeply humanitarian and essential to the fabric of our society.
This conference is a strategic step towards enhancing your professional competence and ensuring that you are adequately equipped, physically, mentally, and emotionally, to carry out your responsibilities effectively,” sgs said.

She further said with the rising population of Lagos, there is need for continuous investment in training, capacity building, and the overall welfare of first responders.

Sanwo-Olu commended the Ministry for organizing the conference noting that it aligns with the vision of the Lagos State government to prioritise health, safety, and resilience across all sectors.

The Commissioner, Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, Olugbenga Oyerinde, said the conference was organised to strengthen the clinical capacity, preparedness, and resilience of the first responders.

He also noted that the government should enhance the quality of medical support provided to those engaged in disaster response, and other emergency operations across the State through improved health support systems as they often operate in high-risk, unpredictable environments.
Effective emergency response requires more than individual competence; it demands strong systems, clear protocols, efficient communication channels, and sustained inter-agency cooperation.

He assured of government support to initiatives that enhance the welfare, safety, and effectiveness of its workforce.

In her address, the Medical Director, Lagos State First Responders Medical Clinics, Dr. Funmi Shokunbi said first responders are the backbone of the state’s health workforce.

“ They are the human face of comfort, where others see safety, they run to lifeline. They care for the caregivers,” she said.

She said the conference would help to build a ‘resilient and sustainable emergency system as strong as the health of those who depend on it.’

Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Akin Abayomi said the government will pay attention to the mental health of first responders while the Chairman,Lagos House of Assembly Committee on Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, Rauf Age-Sulaimon assured them that government is ready to provide for their needs with ‘laws and finance ‘

The Lagos Head of Service, Olabode Agoro represented by the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission, LASIEC, Abdulwasiu Fashola noted that the role of first responders remains critical to the effectiveness of the state’s emergency system.’

The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, says no fewer than 33 states and the FCT will experience flooding in 2026, with 14,118 communities identified as high-risk nationwide.

Mr Utsev disclosed this in Abuja on Wednesday at the public presentation of the 2026 Annual Flood Outlook, AFO, by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA).

He said the high-risk communities were located in 266 Local Government Areas, LGAs, based on scientific forecasts and hydrological assessments.

The affected states according to him are Abia, Adamawa, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Enugu, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna and Kano.

Others include Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe and Zamfara, including the FCT.

The minister said that 15,597 communities in 405 LGAs across 35 states would face moderate flood risk, while Ekiti remained the only state not affected.

He added that 923 communities in 77 LGAs across 24 states fell within the low flood risk category.

”States in this category include Adamawa, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Sokoto, Taraba and Zamfara,” he said.

He warned of possible flash and urban flooding in major cities, including Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Ibadan and Kano.

He said coastal and riverine flooding is expected in Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Lagos, Ogun, Rivers and Ondo due to rising sea levels and tidal surges.

”The AFO is not just a scientific report; it is a call to action. Early warning saves lives and reduces economic losses,” he emphasised.

Mr Utsev attributed increasing flood incidents to climate variability, rapid urbanisation, inadequate drainage infrastructure and poor land-use practices.

He revealed that the Federal Government was strengthening hydrological monitoring through improved data systems, automated river gauges and advanced modelling techniques.

He added that collaboration with the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NiMet, and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) were being enhanced to improve forecast accuracy and early warning dissemination.

The minister urged state governments to integrate flood risk considerations into land-use planning, urban development and infrastructure design.

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He also called for improved drainage systems, effective floodplain management and stronger community preparedness to minimise impacts.

Earlier, President Bola Tinubu, represented by the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, said flooding remained a major national challenge, with recurring incidents recorded since 2012.

Tinubu said his administration had initiated policies and programmes, including flood control projects, to address the persistent threat.

He said that the 2024 Maiduguri flood marked a turning point toward proactive flood and disaster management.

According to him, the Anticipatory Action initiative, led by the Office of the Vice-President, is strengthening early warning, preparedness and coordinated response.

Tinubu described the AFO as a key planning document guiding early action, mitigation and evacuation strategies nationwide.

He urged stakeholders to utilise the forecasts to protect lives, livelihoods and critical infrastructure.

The president also emphasised the need to harness water resources to drive economic diversification and sustainable development.

Also speaking, the Director-General of NIHSA, Umar Mohammed, said the forecast was based on comprehensive, data-driven analysis of flood-prone areas.

Mr Mohammed said the AFO served as an early warning tool to support planning and coordinated disaster response nationwide.

He added that the agency had upgraded its forecasting system to a hybrid AI-integrated model to improve accuracy and lead time.

He also said that the Flood Dashboard now enabled real-time monitoring and dissemination of alerts to stakeholders.

He urged residents in vulnerable areas to heed early warnings and adopt preventive measures to reduce risks.

The NIHSA director general called for wider dissemination of the outlook to strengthen preparedness and resilience in communities.

He appreciated the Federal Government and development partners for their support in the preparation of the 2026 outlook.

The goodwill messages were delivered by representatives of the World Meteorological Organisation, NiMet, NEMA, the Minister of Livestock Development, Dr Idi Maiha, and other stakeholders.
NAN