Nigeria’s inflation rises further to 33.69%, highest in 28 years

Nigeria’s inflation rises further to 33.69%, highest in 28 years

Nigeria’s inflation rose to its highest in 28 years as it hit 33.69 per cent in April 2024, up from 33.20 per cent in March.
A report by the National Bureau of Statistics revealed this on Wednesday. It showed the food and non-alcoholic beverages category continued to be the biggest contributor to inflation.
Food inflation, which accounts for the bulk of the inflation basket, reached 40.53 per cent in annual terms, against 40.01 per cent in March.
The galloping inflation is attributed largely to President Bola Tinubu administration’s removal of petrol subsidy and naira devaluation due to foreign exchange rates unification.
Reuters in a report recalled that the Central Bank of Nigeria had raised interest rates twice this year, including its largest hike in around 17 years, as it struggles to contain the price pressures.
CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso has indicated that rates will stay high to bring down inflation.
The bank holds another rate-setting meeting next week.

Price pressures have left millions of Nigerians grappling with the worst cost of living crisis in decades as they struggle to meet their basic needs.
To ease the pressure on government workers, Tinubu recently introduced a wage award of N35,000 and direct cash transfer to the vulnerable.