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Nigeria’s headline inflation dropped marginally to 15.39 percent in the month of August, a report by the National Bureau of Statistics has shown.

The report said the figure was down from 15.43% in July 2026 and stood at 23.14% in the same month of the preceding year (August 2025).

Looking at the movement, it explained the August 2026 Headline inflation rate showed a decrease of 0.04% compared to the July 2026 Headline inflation rate.

On a month-on-month basis, the inflation rate in August 2026 was 0.71%, which was 0.86% lower than the rate recorded in July 2026 (1.57%).

‘This means that in August 2026, the rate of increase in the average price level was lower than the rate of increase in the average price level in July 2026.’

It added that Food inflation rate in August 2026 was 19.57% on a year-on-year basis and stood at 25.30% in the same month of the preceding year (August 2025).

Also, on a month-on-month basis, the Food inflation rate in August 2026 was 1.02%, down by 4.55% points from July 2026 (5.56%).

‘This shows that the average prices of food items are increasing at a decreasing rate in August 2026.’

It said the drop in food inflation rate was attributed mainly to changes in the average prices of Palm Oil, Carrots, Pepper, Onions, Cassava Flour, Beef, Yam Flour, Water Yam, Melon (Egusi), Fresh Ginger Fresh Fish, Irish Potatoes, Wheat Grain, Frozen Chicken, Turkey Meat, Yam Flour, among others.

‘The average annual rate of Food inflation for the twelve months ending August 2026 over the previous twelve-month average was 15.70%, which was 14.15% points lower compared with the average annual rate of change recorded in August 2025 (29.86%).’

In states, it said all Items rate on a year-on-year basis was highest in Lagos (23.68%), Zamfara (22.56%), and Enugu (22.06%), while Sokoto (2.11%), Kebbi (3.72%) and Jigawa (3.81%) recorded the lowest rise in Headline inflation on a Year-on-Year basis.

On a Month-on-Month basis, the highest increases in Rivers (6.92%), Osun (5.61%) and Kano (5.59%), while Anambra (-8.83%), Bauchi (-7.13%), and Borno (-7.09%) recorded the lowest rise in the Month-on-Month inflation.

For Food Inflation, increase on year-on-year basis was highest in Adamawa (38.85%), Zamfara (37.96%), and Bayelsa (36.20%), while Borno (-4.04%), Jigawa (-0.23%) and Kebbi (3.47%) recorded the slowest rise in Food inflation on a Year-on-Year basis.

‘On a Month-on-Month basis, however, August 2026 Food inflation was highest in Katsina (9.48%), Rivers (8.86%) and Osun (8.32%), while Taraba (-12.42%), Borno (-12.15%), and Bauchi (-8.88%) recorded the slowest rise.’

…Inflation still high – Report

Inflation remained a major concern for households and businesses in August 2026, according to a recent inflation expectations survey report by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The Inflation Perception Index stood at 39.6 points in August, down slightly from 40.0 points recorded in July.

While the decline was modest, respondents appeared increasingly hopeful that inflationary pressures would moderate in the months ahead, with expectations projected to fall to 19.9 index points next month.

Among households, the proportion of respondents who considered inflation to be high edged down marginally, from 67.3 per cent in July to 67.2 per cent in August. Businesses recorded a more noticeable improvement, with the share perceiving inflation as high falling from 65.4 per cent to 61.8 per cent during the review period.

The experience of inflation, however, varied considerably across different categories of businesses and households.

By business size, micro enterprises recorded the highest inflation perception index at 101.4, followed by medium-sized businesses at 63.3, large businesses at 63.1, and small businesses at 57.4. On the other hand, small businesses recorded the highest perception of moderate inflation at 32.3 per cent, followed closely by large businesses at 31.8 per cent, medium enterprises at 27.8 per cent, and micro businesses at 24.7 per cent.

Geography also played a role in how households experienced rising prices. Rural households were more likely to perceive inflation as high, with 65.7 per cent reporting a high perception of inflation, compared with 63.2 per cent among their urban counterparts.

Income differences were even more pronounced. Households earning below N70,000 recorded the highest perception of inflation at 68.4 per cent, while those earning above N450,000 recorded the lowest at 30.8 per cent. The figures highlight how rising prices continue to weigh more heavily on households with lower incomes.

Despite these pressures, respondents expressed greater optimism about the future. The survey showed that both households and businesses anticipate a gradual decline in inflation over the next three and six months.

Among businesses, 16.9 per cent expected inflation to moderate over the next month, while the proportion rose to 29.4 per cent when respondents considered the next six months. Similarly, 23.2 per cent of households expected inflation to moderate over the six-month period.

The survey also captured the continuing impact of inflation on expenditure. In August, 60.1 per cent of firms reported that inflation had increased their expenditure, compared with 51.9 per cent of households.

Inflation remains a significant burden, particularly for low-income and rural households, while businesses continue to face higher operating costs. Nevertheless, the stronger expectations of moderation over the medium term suggest that respondents are beginning to see the possibility of some relief ahead.

Many Nigerians who spoke to Daily Trust insist that despite the drop the inflation remains very high. ‘This one is a mere statistics,’ said a Lagos resident, Mr. Ayodele Segun, adding, ‘Prices of food items are still costly and the truth is I don’t even believe in this figure.’

…Inflation may ease while prices remain elevated – Expert

A financial analyst, Asalu Adegboyega Yinka stated that there is ‘difference between macroeconomic performance and household welfare.’

He explained that economic growth does not automatically translate into higher living standards.

He said, ‘What matters to households is whether their real disposable income is growing faster than the cost of food, housing, transportation, healthcare, education and other essential goods and services.

‘Even when inflation is decelerating, prices may still be rising-only at a slower rate. Therefore, a decline in the inflation rate does not mean that the cost of living has fallen.

‘Nigeria also faces structural challenges, including weak real wage growth, high unemployment and underemployment, low productivity, infrastructure deficits, elevated energy and transportation costs, housing shortages, income inequality and limited access to affordable credit.

‘Therefore, the real test of Nigeria’s economic recovery should not be limited to GDP growth, rising reserves or exchange-rate stability.

A stronger macroeconomic balance sheet is important, but economic stability is only meaningful when it eventually translates into improved purchasing power and a better quality of life for ordinary Nigerians.’

The livestock sector’s contribution to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has risen to N3.23 trillion, the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, has said.

Maiha disclosed this on Tuesday while speaking on Trust TV’s Business Daily programme.

He said the Federal Government created the Ministry of Livestock Development to formalise and modernise the sector and unlock its economic potential.

According to him, the government has consolidated existing livestock policies into the National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy, which has 10 pillars, while a National Livestock Master Plan with a 15-year trajectory has also been developed.

‘The livestock sector is about $32 billion,’ he said, adding that the government was working to increase productivity and develop the different parts of the livestock value chain.

Maiha said the number of states with dedicated livestock ministries or agencies had increased from three to 21.

He said the government was also promoting Livestock Development Centres through partnerships among the federal and state governments and the private sector.

‘The concept is to have a partnership between the federal government, the state government and the private sector,’ he said.

Maiha said the centres would focus on areas including genetic improvement, feed and fodder, animal health, biosecurity, processing and other aspects of the livestock value chain.

He said open grazing and nomadism were no longer sustainable, adding that the movement of animals over long distances affected productivity and contributed to conflicts.

‘Nomadism, free-open grazing is no longer sustainable. It is conflict-ridden,’ he said.

The minister said Nigeria had about 417 grazing reserves, many of which had not been rehabilitated and had been affected by encroachment.

He said the government was therefore working with states that were willing to provide land for livestock development centres and settled production systems.

Maiha also said the government planned to introduce identification and traceability systems for livestock using ear tags and radio-frequency identification.

‘We are going to have radio frequency identification, microchipping and ear tagging of every four-legged animal,’ he said.

He said the system would help the government track animal movement and establish reliable data on the country’s livestock population.

According to him, the data would also support disease control and vaccination planning for diseases including foot-and-mouth disease, peste des petits ruminants, contagious bovine pleuropneumonia, anthrax, rabies and African swine fever.

Maiha said improving livestock production, processing and traceability would help Nigeria derive more economic value from the sector.

At least 8,950 smallholder farmers in eight Local Government Areas of Benue State have been trained to produce their own manure as part of efforts to cut fertiliser costs and improve soil fertility.

Our correspondent reports that the training was part of an agricultural intervention by the Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA), supported by The Nippon Foundation (TNF), which has also provided farmers with improved seeds, fertiliser, extension services and training on climate-resilient farming practices.

SAA’s Technical Coordinator, Climate Resilient and Sustainable Agrifood Systems (CRAS), Nathaniel Otene, disclosed this during a media field trip to demonstration farms in Cheedu community, Gwer-East, and Luga, Gboko LGA.

Otene, who represented the Country Director of SAA, Godwin Atser, said farmers were being encouraged to turn animal manure, leaves and crop residues into compost to reduce dependence on synthetic fertilisers.

He said the programme also promoted biochar to improve soil fertility, water retention and nutrient availability, adding that farmers were trained on improved planting techniques, spacing, crop population and other agronomic practices.

The intervention, implemented in collaboration with the Benue State Bureau of Agricultural Development and Mechanization (BENARDA), covers Gwer-East, Gboko, Tarka, Guma, Ushongo, Vandeikya, Buruku and Konshisha LGAs.

According to Otene, the farmers, comprising men, women, youths and Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), were organised into groups and trained in the production of soybean, maize, rice and horticultural crops, including onions, tomatoes, amaranthus and pepper.

He said farmers were also encouraged to intercrop maize with soybean and practise crop rotation, noting that soybean could help improve nitrogen levels in the soil.

A beneficiary and chairlady of a farmers’ cooperative society, Patience Kwaghgba, said the training had improved farmers’ knowledge of manure production, fertiliser application, pest control and proper crop management.

Kwaghgba said the intervention had enabled farmers to obtain more crops from smaller areas, adding that it had also changed their perception of farming from subsistence to a business venture.

She said beneficiaries received improved seedlings, USG fertiliser and other inputs, expressing confidence that the knowledge acquired would help sustain production beyond the intervention.

Meanwhile, the programme also has a family economic component, under which 50 women farmers and their spouses were trained on joint household financial decision-making, farm planning and management of farm income.

The project factsheet showed that 8,950 farmers were reached through step-down extension training, while 1,366 farmers were mobilised and sensitised in newly entered communities.

It added that 75 smallholder seed producers participated in the establishment of 1.5 hectares of Community-Based Seed Multiplication plots comprising one hectare of soybean and 0.5 hectares of maize.

The Programme Officer, Inclusive Markets and Agribusiness Development, Jonathan Yassah, said the centre was established to turn cassava production into a profitable business through processing and market linkages.

Yassah said the centre had created employment for eight young people, while demand for its services currently exceeded its processing capacity.

The intervention also promoted technologies including Urea Deep Placement, Integrated Soil Fertility Management and Integrated Pest Management, while 17 Community Savings and Internal Lending Association executives were trained in financial literacy, savings mobilisation, loan administration and record-keeping.

The disturbing reports of kidney harvesting and organ trafficking particularly around the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and neighbouring Nasarawa State is a sad reflection on the broader failures in public health infrastructure and oversight functions in Nigeria. This illicit business involves private hospitals working with network of agents who recruit vulnerable young people often from low-income satellite communities to either deceptively harvest or get them sell their kidneys.

In a case which gained attention lately, a young man discovered a missing kidney after a procedure. On August 9, 2026, operatives of Nigeria Police Force’s Special Tactical Squad arrested four suspects in Auta Balefi, Karu LGA, Nasarawa State. The four include an alleged recruiter and medical doctors linked to a hospital at Life Camp, Abuja. Police said one of them has already confessed to luring a 22-year-old to the hospital in April 2026 where a kidney was harvested for about N1.7 million. Another alleged victim from 2022 reportedly received N7 million.

But it was a three-month undercover investigation by Daily Trust titled ‘Inside Abuja’s Kidney ‘Market’ Where The Rich Prey On The Poor’ that exposed the shadow economy of illegal organ trafficking operating in the FCT and the neighbouring Nasarawa State communities of Mararaba and Masaka.

This inhuman trade is widespread because the prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, and other illnesses exacerbates kidney diseases which drives replacement therapy.

A 2025 review reported that approximately 11 per cent to 19 per cent of adults in Nigeria live with chronic kidney disease (CKD), meaning roughly one in every seven to eight people is affected. Studies and reviews show higher rates are often observed among older adults and females. Globally, the World Health Organisation estimates that 674 million people are living with chronic kidney disease, with most affected people in low- and middle-income countries.

Between 2015 and 2020, data presented by medical experts indicates that at least 651 kidneys were trafficked and illegally transplanted in Nigeria. Globally, it is estimated that thousands of kidneys are sold illegally around the world every year. Reports indicate that individual kidneys in the underground Nigerian market have been sold for amounts from N1 million (in low-income targeted recruitment) up to N7 million for direct donors, while being resold downstream sometimes for foreign patients for between N50 million to N70 million.

Largely, the fertile ground for this is effectuated by lack of functional organ banks, absence of deceased (cadaveric) donation programmes, and weak enforcement of the National Health Act of 2014 which was meant to regulate organ donation and transplantation in the country. Yet, this is a dangerous business that is not excusable under any circumstances.

Daily Trust calls for immediate and full implementation of all provisions of the National Health Act especially the areas that address consent, commercial trade, and authorisation. In fact, Section 48 of the Act on Informed Consent mandates that tissue or organs (including kidneys) can only be removed from a living person with the appropriate informed consent of the donor. The law also strictly prohibits the sale, buying, or commercial trade of human organs and tissues for financial gain, while requiring that transplant and removal procedures take place only in authorised hospitals or health facilities by registered medical practitioners. Recent reports underscore the failure to implement stronger regulation and enforcement of transplant standards as specified in the Act.

We hereby urge the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) to treat organ commercialism as an issue of critical national concern by enforcing Section 20 of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015 which gives it the statutory power to investigate, arrest, and prosecute networks involved in human trafficking for the purpose of organ removal.

It should collaborate closely with the Police to track and dismantle organ harvesting syndicates while working with parental and youth groups in helping their members in looking out for fraudulent employment or educational offers that act as fronts for organ harvesting.

We also urge NAPTIP to lead in sustained undercover operations against perpetrators while ensuring rapid response to reported cases and prosecution of traffickers, medical facilitators and others involved in the abominable business. All perpetrators must face the law to serve as deterrent to others.

Moreover, there should be expansion of access to early prevention and treatment of kidney diseases through ensuring a transparent national transplant register and waiting lists in order to ensure that legitimate needs are met through ethical channels rather than the illegal black market. We also urge the implementation of enlightenment campaigns using mainstream and social media, community, religious and traditional leaders towards creating awareness on the evils of organ harvesting. We implore credible NGOs and advocacy groups to increase their focus on anti-trafficking and organ ethical standards.

Government should also increase access to poverty alleviation measures and creation of social safety nets which will reduce the number of people who may be tempted to sell their organs for survival. We insist that the wrongful practices of underground medical black market organ trafficking must stop.