Abuja, Nigeria | Tuesday, September 16, 2025
Ekiti State has emerged as the first South-Western state to lead Nigeria’s inflation chart following the recent rebasing of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
The latest inflation figures show that Ekiti recorded the highest year-on-year inflation rate among all states, surpassing its regional peers and marking a significant shift in the South-West’s economic dynamics. Traditionally, northern and riverine states have dominated the top of the inflation ranking due to higher food and transport costs.
According to the NBS, the CPI rebasing was carried out to better capture evolving consumption patterns across Nigeria. The adjustment has reshaped state-by-state inflation standings, with Ekiti now topping the list largely due to surging food and household utility costs in the region.
Economic analysts note that the development underscores the widening cost-of-living challenges across states previously considered relatively stable. Rising transport fares, energy tariffs, and supply-chain disruptions have been cited as key drivers of the spike in inflation in Ekiti.
Experts also warn that unless state and federal authorities intensify interventions to address rising costs, the situation could further strain household incomes and deepen economic vulnerabilities in the South-West.
