The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry has raised concerns that worsening insecurity and rising geopolitical tensions may disrupt food production and supply chains in Nigeria, potentially fuelling food inflation in the months ahead.

Speaking on Tuesday in Lagos, the Chamber’s Director-General, Dr Chinyere Almona, said that while the national inflation rate eased slightly to 22.97 percent in May, deeper structural issues continue to threaten sustained progress.

She linked the modest drop in inflation to ongoing monetary policy actions by the Central Bank of Nigeria but cautioned that temporary gains could easily be reversed.

Almona warned that recent incidents—including violent clashes between herders and farmers in the Middle Belt, as well as recurrent flooding—could significantly reduce agricultural yields this season.

She added that global dynamics, such as ongoing conflict in Eastern Europe and heightened unrest in the Middle East, may increase import-related costs and intensify supply chain disruptions.

Fuel importation and logistics may face added strain due to higher oil prices and global trade uncertainties, she noted, pointing to potential knock-on effects on domestic food prices. With food making up a significant part of the inflation index, these pressures could weigh heavily on Nigeria’s economic outlook later in the year.

She warned, “These shocks pose significant risks to food availability and prices, which can drive food inflation—an essential component of the headline inflation index in the third and fourth quarters of 2025.”

Almona called on the federal government to strengthen security in farming communities, improve transport infrastructure, and boost investment in irrigation and mechanised agriculture.

She also encouraged continuity in key energy sector reforms and urged the Central Bank to maintain its current monetary stance while enhancing financing options for agriculture and industry.

She stressed the need for better food distribution systems, warning that inefficiencies in moving produce from rural farms to urban markets remain a persistent barrier to reducing food costs nationwide.