Borno and Yobe Market Monitoring

Highlights

•   In February 2026, headline food inflation rose to 12.12 percent, up from 8.89 percent, indicating a rise of up to 36.33 percent on a month-on-month basis.
• The cost of the Survival Minimum Expenditure Basket (SMEB) indicated a sig-nificant increase in Fune (19%), as well as Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC), Gujba, Machina, and Nangere (15% each), while a modest decrease were observed in Ngala (10%) and Magumeri (7%).
• The official exchange rate of the Naira against the US Dollar closed at ₦1,368.5/$1, reflecting an appreciation of up to 1.62 percent from ₦1,391/$1 in the previous month.
• Fuel prices showed a sharp rise across majority of the monitored LGAs. The lowest fuel price was recorded in MMC at ₦ 878, while the highest price was observed in Mobbar LGA at ₦1,867, both in Borno State.
• The increase in SMEB cost reduce the purchasing power of market‑dependent households in the northeast Nigeria, making it more difficult for vulnerable families to afford diverse and adequate food. Even small price changes can push vulnerable families to adopt negative coping strategies, increasing their risk of food insecurity.
   
• Rising staple food prices and overall food inflation are slightly increasing the cost of living, reducing the purchasing power of market‑dependent households. Higher fuel and transport costs are further driving expenses, weakening household resilience and limiting access to essential food and non‑food items.