Business

MPC meets today, inflation, rising unemployment in focus

Published

5 years ago

March 22, 2021

Members of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) will today begin their two-day meeting in Abuja amid concerns of rising inflationary pressure and worsening unemployment.

The committee is expected to review the domestic and external macroeconomic conditions and financial markets developments since its last meeting in January and provide forward guidance on how it intends to balance the competing goals of price and exchange rate stability.

Commenting on today’s meeting, analysts at Cordros Capital Limited noted that the persistent increase in inflation was primarily due to the combined effects of ongoing security challenges in the country, forex liquidity challenges, and poor distribution networks.

“Although a dovish monetary policy contradicts rising inflationary pressures, we expect the committee to reiterate that a hike in interest rate will oppose its current growth mandate, given the adverse impact on the rising cost of borrowing for households, businesses and the government,” the Lagos-based firm stated.

Also, analysts at Greenwich Merchant Bank envisaged that the committee should back its pro-growth stance by holding the key parameters at their current levels.

“On the domestic scene, the committee would assess the economy’s surprise exit from its recession (thanks to the non-oil sector growth of 1.7 per cent), along with the optimistic outlook for 2021.

The analysts noted that “higher oil prices, which have returned to pre-pandemic levels sustained inflationary pressures (inflation rate rose to 17.3 per cent in February, from 16.5 per cent in January), higher unemployment readings (unemployment rate settled at 33.3 per cent in Q4:2020, up from 27.1 per cent in Q2:2020), pressure on external reserves from ongoing FX difficulties, and the country’s ballooning debt levels will all be factored in.”

They pointed out that overall, the policy-setting committee remains faced with three options: to tighten, hold, or lower the key policy rate.

They said: “Although, we opine a tightening stance could drive back capital flows to help boost external reserves, stem inflationary pressures and bring in the much-needed price stability, it could also distort the progress achieved so far in supporting growth.

“On the other side, while a loosening stance could hasten an economic recovery, helped by the lower credit environment, it could also worsen the real rate of returns and persistent price pressures.

“Against this backdrop, we see the committee embracing its current stance. We remain conscious of the MPR’s weak transmission effect, which supports the bank’s use of unorthodox policies, as assets remain unanchored by the policy rate.

“Case in point, the steep rise in Open Market Operation (OMO) yields appears to have set the tone of fixed income rates, pushing up stop rates at the Primary Market Auctions (PMAs) for T-bills and the bonds to 6.8 per cent (average 364-day) and 11.8 per cent, from 1.2 per cent (average 364-day) and seven per cent respectively.”

It added that a possible increase in the MPR just might suggest that authorities are prioritising efforts to control inflation over economic growth.

Speaking in a chat with THISDAY, Managing Director, Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Mr. Bismarck Rewane, said he doesn’t expect any change in the monetary policy instrument.

“Unemployment is a fiscal lagging indicator that you do not use monetary policy tools to address; it is inflation that is a big problem.

“I don’t think the MPC will adjust any of the tools because it is a very complex situation. I won’t be surprised that they do, but I am not expecting anything,” Rewane added.

Also, Head of Research, United Capital Limited, Mr. Wale Olusi, anticipates that the MPC would hold interest rate, but would continue to tighten using its open market operations.

According to him, leaving the interest rate at the current level would encourage economic growth. At the last meeting in January, the MPC left all the monetary policy tools unchanged.

The Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) was left at 11.5 per cent; cash reserve ratio (CRR) at 27.5 per cent and asymmetric corridor at +100/-700bps around the MPR, and the liquidity ratio at 30 per cent.

Surprisingly, the domestic economy had exited the COVID-19 induced recession in the fourth quarter of 2020 with real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth growing marginally by 0.11 per cent year-on-year, compared with a contraction by 3.62 per cent recorded in the previous quarter.

Nevertheless, the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which measures inflation increased by 17.33 per cent (year-on-year) in February 2021, compared to16.47 per cent in the preceding month, according to recent data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The composite food index had risen by 21.79 per cent in February compared to 20.57 per cent in January. Also, Nigeria’s unemployment rate rose to 33.3 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2020 (Q4 2020) compared to 27.1 per cent in Q2, according to a recent report released by the NBS. That implied that 23.18 million of the country’s labour force either did nothing or worked for less than 20 hours a week, making them unemployed by the country’s definition of unemployment.

-THISDAY

Insurance

Lasaco Assurance Launches N18.47bn Rights Issue to Strengthen Capital Base

Published

10 hours ago

April 3, 2026

Trends Admin

L-R: Deputy Managing Director, Rilwan Oshinusi; Non-Executive Director, Biodun Dosunmu; Betridge; Managing Director, Adeyemo Shobo; Non-Executive Director, Oluwatobiloba Lawal; Fola Tinubu, during a signing ceremony on rights issue of N18.47bn.

Lasaco Assurance Launches N18.47bn Rights Issue to Strengthen Capital Base

Lasaco Assurance Plc has unveiled a ₦18.47 billion rights issue, announcing plans to offer 9,236,321,546 ordinary shares as part of efforts to reinforce its capital base and drive future growth.

The announcement was made during a signing ceremony held at the company’s head office in Lagos, following approvals from the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Lasaco Assurance Plc

Prior to this development, the company had secured shareholder backing at an extra general meeting, where investors approved the move to raise fresh capital through a rights issue.

Under the terms of the offer, shares are priced at ₦2.00 per share, with each share having a nominal value of 50 kobo. The rights issue is structured on the basis of five new shares for every six existing shares held by shareholders.

According to details released by the insurer, eligibility is limited to shareholders whose names appeared on the company’s register as of the close of business on February 20, 2026. The acceptance list opened on April 2, 2026, and will close on April 24, 2026.

Auto

Soaring Fuel Prices Drive Nigerians Toward Electric Vehicles

Published

1 day ago

April 2, 2026

Trends Admin

Soaring Fuel Prices Drive Nigerians Toward Electric Vehicles

Rising fuel prices in Nigeria are accelerating interest in electric vehicles (EVs) as households, transport operators, and businesses seek cost-effective alternatives to petrol- and diesel-powered cars. Experts say the spike in petrol costs is no longer just an economic concern but a turning point, pushing electric mobility from a futuristic idea into a practical solution for everyday commuting and commercial use.

At the Abuja Compact on Electric Mobility Roundtable, stakeholders highlighted how increasing transport expenses are reshaping decisions, especially among commercial drivers and small business owners. Rising fuel costs are prompting many Nigerians to see EVs as a survival strategy rather than a luxury option.

Chairman of the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles (Pi-CNG & EV), Ismaeel Ahmed, explained that the removal of fuel subsidies has widened the cost gap between petrol-powered vehicles and EVs. Charging an EV for a 200-kilometre journey costs around ₦4,500, compared to roughly ₦22,500 for petrol vehicles — a difference that offers a “strong economic incentive” influencing consumer choices. Ahmed added that the federal government is pursuing a balanced transition strategy supporting both compressed natural gas (CNG) and electric vehicles to encourage sustainable energy alternatives.

Financial solutions are helping Nigerians overcome the high upfront costs of EVs. Mohammed Abdul, Divisional Head at Alternative Bank, noted that lease-to-own, pay-as-you-go, and partnership schemes are making EVs accessible to drivers in the informal transport sector. These financing models allow gradual adoption while easing financial burdens.

Soaring Fuel Prices Drive Nigerians Toward Electric Vehicles

Business

Rite Foods, BJAN champion consumer safety at Ososa factory tour

Published

1 day ago

April 2, 2026

Trends Admin

Rite Foods, BJAN champion consumer safety at Ososa factory tour

By Daphne Uduneje

To commemorate World Consumer Rights Day 2026, the Brand Journalists’ Association of Nigeria (BJAN) partnered with Rite Foods Limited to host a high-level stakeholder engagement at the company’s ultra-modern manufacturing plant in Ososa, Ogun State.

Under the theme “Safe Products, Confident Consumers,” the event combined rigorous policy discourse with a firsthand look at the cutting-edge technology behind one of Nigeria’s leading indigenous brands.

The journey began at Rite Foods’ Lagos office, transitioning from the city’s urban bustle to the expansive, scenic greenery of the Ososa facility. For the journalists in attendance, the factory’s exterior—a sprawling, sophisticated complex—signalled a facility capable of competing on a global scale.

Inside, the hum of precision machinery served as the backdrop for the day’s discussions. Olufemi Ajileye, General Manager for Operations at Rite Foods, welcomed guests by emphasizing that safety is the bedrock of their market strategy.

Since breaking into the carbonated soft drink sector, Rite Foods has leveraged advanced technology and stringent quality controls—including international laboratory testing for water purity—to earn and maintain public trust.

Despite improvements in legislation, speakers noted a persistent gap in consumer awareness. Sola Salako-Ajulo, founder of the Consumer Advocacy Foundation of Nigeria (CAFON), described consumer confidence as the “oxygen of any market.”

To empower the public, she unveiled the CAFON Consumers Companion (3C), an AI-powered platform designed to educate Nigerians on their rights and provide a roadmap for dispute resolution.

“Consumers often feel powerless,” she noted, “but technology can bridge the gap between grievance and redress.”

The Regulatory Stance

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) and NAFDAC reaffirmed their commitment to enforcement:

FCCPC: Executive Vice Chairman Tunji Bello (represented by Olubunmi Dorcas Otti) urged businesses to maintain transparency, noting that economic participation thrives only when safety is guaranteed.

NAFDAC: Director-General Mojisola Adeyeye (represented by Tinuola Akinnubi) reminded attendees that consumer rights are legally enforceable obligations, highlighting the importance of “technological traceability” in the modern market.

BJAN Chairman Daniel Obi emphasized that the association had sustained this initiative for over a decade because consumer protection is a collective burden.

“It is not the responsibility of regulators alone,” Obi stated. “Businesses, media, and civil society must work in harmony.”

The event concluded with a guided tour of the production floor. Journalists observed a seamless, automated “dance” of technology where drinks were corked, labeled, and packaged with surgical precision.

As the delegation departed Ososa, the takeaway was clear: building a “confident consumer” requires more than just marketing—it requires the transparency of the factory floor and the accountability of the boardroom.