Nigeria's Central Bank Raises Interest Rate to Tackle Inflation

The Central Bank of Nigeria has increased its key interest rate by 200 basis points to 24.75%, aiming to combat the country’s severe inflation and currency devaluation. Following a 400 basis point hike in February, this marks the second consecutive increase, underscoring the central bank’s aggressive approach to inflation, which stood at 31.7% year-on-year in February. Governor Olayemi Cardoso emphasized the necessity of this action to manage inflation expectations and support the naira, which has shown some recovery after a significant drop. Experts anticipate further hikes but expect the policy to stabilize towards the year’s end.