As Nigerians continue to face rising living costs, new data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) for January 2026 highlights the states offering the greatest relief to residents in terms of affordability.
Nigeria’s headline inflation rate moderated slightly to 15.10 percent in January 2026, down from 15.15 percent in December 2025, according to the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report released by the NBS.
The marginal decline of 0.05 percentage points signals a continued easing of price pressures at the start of the year, extending the gradual slowdown observed in recent months.
The year-on-year improvement is even more pronounced. Compared to January 2025, when inflation stood at 27.61 percent, the rate has fallen by 12.51 percentage points, reflecting a significant moderation in overall price growth across the country.
While national figures provide a broad overview of economic trends, cost-of-living conditions differ considerably across states.
Based on state-level inflation data, the following are the Top 10 most affordable states to live in January 2026, ranked by lowest headline inflation rates and reflecting relative stability in essential goods and services.
Ogun State recorded a headline inflation rate of 12.86 percent, a sharp decline from 18.8 percent in December. Food inflation, though still moderately elevated at 7.9 percent, also dropped from 14.1 percent in December. The state’s proximity to Lagos and its strong industrial and commercial base are helping to sustain relative price stability in housing, transportation, and other services.
The state government, led by Governor Dapo Abiodun, has rolled out a series of targeted interventions aimed at reducing the cost of living and cushioning residents against inflationary pressures, with particular emphasis on food security and transportation.
Among the key measures is the planned sale of 100 truckloads of rice to residents at a 50 percent discount, with special allocations reserved for elderly and vulnerable groups.
The government has also introduced market price control measures and prohibited all levies in markets except approved environmental and development charges, in order to eliminate illegal fees on food items. A dedicated market enforcement task force has been set up to ensure compliance.
In addition, the rebranded Gateway Trading Company will operate across four zones of the state to bulk-purchase essential food commodities and resell them to the public at reduced prices.
To further support small businesses, the governor in December 2025 approved the disbursement of an additional N250 million in grants to trade artisans across the state.
