The 12th straight monthly increase in consumer inflation is exacerbating a cost of living crisis in Africa's largest economy.
It's also piling pressure on Nigeria's central bank to raise interest rates.
Its Governor Olayemi Cardoso is yet to hold a rate-setting meeting since taking office in September.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, consumer inflation was up from 28.2% in November to 28.92% in December.
That's the highest level since mid-1996.
The food inflation rate, which accounts for the bulk of Nigeria's inflation basket, went from 32.84% the month before to 33.93% in December.
The statistics office said prices rose for a broad range of food items including bread and cereal, oil, fish, meat, fruit and eggs.
Analysts say higher fuel prices and a weaker naira currency have also stoked price pressures.
Last May, President Bola Tinubu embarked on Nigeria's boldest economic reforms in decades.
He scrapped a costly but popular fuel subsidy and devalued the currency to try to revive economic growth.
However, growth is yet to pick up and inflation has worsened.
