Economy
Imported food inflation hits 42% as FG’s duty waiver delays
Nigeria’s imported food inflation surged to 42.29 per cent in November 2024, according to the Consumer Price Index report released by the National Bureau of Statistics.
This represents a significant rise from 23.74 per cent recorded in November 2023, marking an 18.55 percentage point year-on-year increase.
On a month-on-month basis, the inflation rate increased from 40.96 per cent in October 2024, a 1.33 percentage point rise in just one month.
The data highlights the relentless upward trajectory of imported food inflation throughout 2024, which began at 26.29 per cent in January.
By October, the inflation rate had crossed the 40 per cent threshold, and November’s figure of 42.29 per cent is the highest recorded in the past two years.
This sharp rise has been attributed to multiple factors, including currency devaluation, global supply chain disruptions, and inefficiencies in domestic policies.
The Federal Government’s attempt to address the situation through a duty waiver on imported food has been fraught with delays.
In July 2024, the Federal Government announced a 150-day duty-free import window for food commodities as it stepped up efforts to tackle rising inflation, which had impoverished many Nigerians.
The commodities include maize, husked brown rice, wheat and cowpeas. Under this arrangement, imported food commodities will be subjected to a Recommended Retail Price.
It was designed to reduce import costs and make staple foods more affordable. However, the implementation has stalled due to bureaucratic delays.
The PUNCH earlier reported that the average price of imported high-quality rice has surged by 144.77 per cent year-on-year as the Federal Government delays implementing its duty-free food policy.
Since the announcement of the policy, the price of one kilogramme of imported rice has risen by 3.21 per cent, climbing from N2,329.05 in July to N2,403.86 in September.
Nigeria spent $817.4m, approximately N1.26 trillion, to service its debt in the first two months of 2025. This represents a 3.12 percent decline when compared to $843.73 million spent in the corresponding period of 2024.
Data from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, International Payments Report shows that in January 2025, the government spent $540.7 million and in February 2025 it spent $276.7 million on debt servicing.
Further breakdown shows that the country had spent $3.81 billion (about N5.9 trillion) for debt service/Payments in 2024.
Recall that the Federal Government unveiled its largest national budget in 65 years, with a record-breaking N54.99 trillion proposed spending, representing a 56.89 percent increase from the N35.05 trillion budgeted in 2024 (including a supplementary N6.2 trillion).
President Bola Tinubu described it as the “Budget of Restoration,” aimed at stabilising the economy and driving growth.
In the budget debt servicing is allocated N16.3 trillion, a 95 percent increase from N8.25 trillion budgeted in 2024.
Meanwhile, data showed that Nigeria’s foreign trade in Letters of Credit, LC, payments fell by 0.55 percent Year-on-Year (YoY) to $160 million in the first two months of this year from $160.9 million in the corresponding period of last year.
LC payments is one of the critical measure of a country’s credit worthiness but a decline or increase could also reflect developments in volume of import trades.
LC payments for 2024 stood at $801.06 million, representing a 39 percent YoY decline from $1.32billion in 2023.
The Naira appreciated Tuesday to ₦1,565 per dollar in the parallel market from ₦1,570 per dollar on Monday. However, it depreciated to ₦1,537 per dollar in the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM).
Data published by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, showed that the indicative exchange rate for the naira rose to ₦1,537 per dollar from ₦1,528 per dollar on Monday, indicating ₦9 depreciation for the naira.
Consequently, the margin between the parallel market and NFEM rate narrowed to ₦37 per dollar from ₦42 on Monday.
Dollar to naira exchange rate today black market (Aboki dollar rate):
The exchange rate for a dollar to naira at Lagos Parallel Market (Black Market) players buy a dollar for ₦1575 and sell at ₦1580 on Tuesday 11th March, 2025, according to sources at Bureau De Change (BDC).
Please note that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) does not recognize the parallel market (black market), as it has directed individuals who want to engage in Forex to approach their respective banks.
Dollar to Naira Black Market Rate Today
Dollar to Naira (USD to NGN) Black Market Exchange Rate Today
Buying Rate ₦1575
Selling Rate ₦1580
Dollar to Naira CBN Rate Today
Dollar to Naira (USD to NGN) CBN Rate Today
Highest Rate ₦1540
Lowest Rate ₦1512
Please note that the rates you buy or sell forex may be different from what is captured in this article because prices vary.
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