AFAN- transport costs drive food inflation despite harvest

By Annette Ikponmwonba | October 19, 2026

KEYPOINTS

• AFAN President Mohammed Magaji blames rising transportation costs for increasing food prices despite the harvest season.

• Lagos recorded the highest year-on-year food inflation at 34.40% in September 2026.

• Imo and Ondo followed with food inflation rates of 33.79% and 31.49%, respectively.

• Taraba recorded negative food inflation of 7.47%, indicating lower food prices than in September 2025.

• Magaji says states producing food locally may experience smaller price increases because of lower transportation costs.

MAIN STORY

The President of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Mohammed Magaji, has attributed rising food prices across several states to increased transportation costs despite the ongoing harvest season, The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) Consumer Price Index report for September 2026 showed varying food inflation rates across Nigeria, with Lagos, Imo and Ondo recording the highest year-on-year increases, while Taraba, Yobe and Borno recorded the lowest.

The report, released on October 15, 2026, provided a state-by-state breakdown of food inflation, According to the NBS, Lagos recorded the highest year-on-year food inflation rate at 34.40%. Imo followed with 33.79%, while Ondo recorded 31.49%, Lagos also had the highest food price index in the country at 178.0, using 2024 as the base period of 100. Rivers and Oyo followed with indices of 168.1 and 165.5, respectively.

At the other end, Taraba recorded negative food inflation of 7.47%, meaning food prices were lower than in September 2025. Yobe recorded negative 0.37%, while Borno posted 2.18%, However, the NBS cautioned that consumption baskets used to measure inflation differ across states, meaning direct comparisons may be misleading.

THE ISSUES

Transportation Costs Drive Food Prices

Speaking with PUNCH by telephone, Magaji attributed the rise in food prices to increasing transportation costs, explaining that the impact varies depending on where commodities are produced, He said food prices could remain relatively stable in states where the commodities are grown because transportation costs have less impact when produce travels shorter distances to markets.

“I said this is because the cost of transportation has increased. That’s the only reason, nothing more than this. Nothing more than this,” he said, Magaji explained that much of the food production takes place in Taraba State and other parts of northern Nigeria, with neighbouring states relying on supplies from those areas.

“Most of the production is being made in Taraba and other states here in the North. So if it is being made in your state, the price may not increase. If there’s any increase in transportation, the increase will just be very minimal. That’s the reason,” he said.

Northern States Benefit From Local Food Supplies

The AFAN president cited Gombe, Bauchi and other locations in northern Nigeria as areas that receive food supplies from Taraba, He noted that Taraba typically harvests certain crops earlier than other states, making its produce an important source of supply for neighbouring areas, His explanation suggests that differences in transportation expenses and proximity to production centres may contribute to variations in food prices across the country.

WHAT’S BEING SAID

Magaji maintains that rising transportation costs are the main reason food prices continue to increase in several states despite the harvest season, He argues that areas producing their own food may experience smaller price increases because produce does not have to travel long distances to reach consumers, The NBS data, meanwhile, shows substantial differences in food inflation across states, although the bureau cautions against direct comparisons because consumption patterns vary.

WHAT’S NEXT

Food prices will continue to be influenced by transportation expenses, the location of production centres and the movement of agricultural produce between states, Further inflation reports will show whether the harvest season and food supply from major producing areas translate into lower prices for consumers across Nigeria.

BOTTOM LINE

AFAN President Mohammed Magaji has blamed rising transportation costs for continued food inflation despite the harvest season. September 2026 data showed that food price movements varied widely across states, with Lagos recording the highest year-on-year food inflation and Taraba recording a decline.