CBN holds benchmark interest rate at 26.5% amid renewed inflationary pressure

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Wednesday retained its benchmark interest rate at 26.5 percent following the conclusion of its two-day Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting, a decision largely anticipated by analysts who expected policymakers to maintain the status quo.

CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso said the committee decided to keep rates unchanged amid caution over global shocks, particularly uncertainties stemming from developments in the United States and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

The decision highlights the MPC’s cautious stance as policymakers seek to balance the need to rein in inflationary pressures and anchor market expectations while sustaining economic recovery.

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Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed that Nigeria’s headline inflation rate continued its upward trend in April 2026, rising by 31 basis points to 15.69 percent year-on-year from 15.38 percent recorded in March.

The latest increase marks the second consecutive monthly rise in headline inflation, reversing the disinflationary trend that had persisted for 11 months and pushed inflation down from 34.8 percent in late 2024 to 15.06 percent in February 2026.

“While prevailing inflationary risks may justify a cautious policy posture by the MPC, the CPPE strongly urges the monetary authorities to avoid excessive reliance on monetary policy orthodoxy in managing what is fundamentally a structurally-driven inflation environment,” said Muda Yusuf, chief executive officer of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise.

Hope Moses-Ashike

Hope Moses-Ashike is an Associate Editor, Banking and Finance, with more than a decade of experience reporting on Nigeria’s financial system and broader economy. She closely tracks market movements, monetary policy decisions, company disclosures, regulatory actions, economic indicators, and global developments, and interprets what they mean for businesses, investors, policymakers, and households. Her reporting helps readers understand complex issues such as inflation trends, foreign exchange market dynamics, interest rate decisions, bank performance, and investment risks. She also covers major international events and periodically travels to Washington, D.C., to report on the World Bank/IMF Spring and Annual Meetings. Her dedication to financial journalism has earned her multiple recognitions and invitations to high-level professional development programmes. She is an alumna of the International Visitors Leadership Programme (IVLP) in the United States and holds an Advanced Financial Journalism Certificate from the Press Association Training in London, UK. Her other notable achievements include completing the Lagos Business School CMC Programme, the Bloomberg Media Africa Initiative Programme, and a Master Class in Journalism at Rhodes University in South Africa.