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. 
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.
