National

Again, Nigeria Central Bank Raises Interest Rate Amid Surging Inflation

VOICE AIR MEDIA, News Update

THE Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Monetary Policy Committee, MPC, on Tuesday raised the interest by 50 basis points to 26.75 per cent from 26.25 per cent in May 2024.

CBN governor, Olayemi Cardoso, announced this at a press briefing on Tuesday at the end of the two-day 296th MPC in Abuja.

According to him, the decision to further increase the interest rate is to tackle the country’s rising core inflation and food inflation which stood at 34.19 per cent and 40.87 per cent, respectively in June.

He said members of the MPC are not oblivious of the need to address the rising prices of food in Nigeria, necessitating the interest rate hike.

All other monetary parameters remained unchanged. That is the Cash Reserve Ratio, remains at 45 percent for commercial banks and 14 percent for merchant banks. Similarly, the Liquidity ratio remained at 30 percent and the Asymmetric corridor stood at +500/100.

VAM News reports that the implication of the interest rate hike is that businesses, farmers, manufacturers and investors will have to pay more to get loans from banks.

The 296th MPC meeting is the fourth time the interest rate has been increased since the appointment of Cardoso in September last year.

Recall that in May 2023, when President Bola Tinubu was inaugurated, Nigeria’s interest rate stood at 18.75 per cent while inflation rate stood at 22.41 per cent.

Meanwhile, despite CBN’s continued interest rate hikes, the country’s inflation has not cooled off.

Earlier analysts had called for a pause in the hike of the interest rate.

The Director of the Centre for Promotion of Private Enterprise, Muda Yusuf, backed call for a pause in the hike of the interest rate.

According to him, the monetary instruments have been overstretched, hence not productive.

“I think we have overstretched monetary instruments because of inflation. They should put a pause on interest rate hikes,” he said.

NOTE: YOU can join our WhatsApp, Telegram for the news updates you need by sending your name & location to WhatsApp No. @ Wa.me/+2348111142174
PLEASE SEND STRICTLY TO WHATSAPP, DON’T SEND SMS MESSAGE OR CALL.
FOR your Advert Placement, Press Release, Press Conference, Interviews, Media & Publicity.
CONTACT VAM WHATSAPP NO. Wa.me/+2348072633727
voiceairmedia@gmail.com
PressRoom@ +2348111142174

VAM News

Recent Posts

30 Killed, Over 60 Abducted in Attacks on 4 Prayer Grounds in Niger

At least 30 people have been killed following attacks on four mosques in Borgu Local…

9 hours ago

Varsity lecturer suspended over sexual misconduct

THE Management of Nnamdi Azikiwe University(UNIZIK), Awka, Anambra State, has ‘suspended’ a lecturer in the…

14 hours ago

“Fake state governors, lawmakers may be unveiled in Nigeria”

THE discovery of a second alleged fake government agency operating from within Nigeria’s federal government…

17 hours ago

Deaths Rock Ikire as APC, Accord Clash Over Motor Park Shooting

THE Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and Accord have traded accusations…

1 day ago

Singer Poco Lee sentenced to prison in UK

THE founder of the Community of Nigerians in the UK, Benjamin Kuti aka Oluomo of…

1 day ago

General Overseer Pastor Adamson Aromaegbe dies

THE founder and General Overseer of Rock Word Church and Dominion International, Adamson Aromaegbe is…

1 day ago