CBN raises interest rate to 18.5%; highest in 22 years

The Central Bank of Nigeria at its just concluded Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting raised its benchmark interest rate (MPR) by 50 basis points to 18.5 per cent, the country’s highest in 22 years.
The CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, made this known during the post-MPC press conference on Wednesday.
In April 2023, headline inflation increased to 22.22 per cent from 22.04 per cent in the previous month, marking its highest level since September 2005.
This is the third time the Mr Emefiele led apex bank will be raising it’s interest rate in 2023.
Nigeria has struggled with a high rate of inflation as well as a declining exchange rate at both the parallel and official markets.
In April 2022, headline inflation reached its highest level in more than 17 years, eroding the purchasing power of the populace.
However, the apex bank has continued to increase the interest rate to combat the continued rising inflation.
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette

Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

NationWide
NPC chairman’s death painful loss to Nigeria, says information ministerÂ
Mr Yusuf was sworn in as the eighth substantive chairman of the commission by President Bola Tinubu on December 3, 2025.

States
Kogi@35: Group urges govt to boost tourism, transport, housing
The organisation expressed concern over the condition of roads in the state.

Agriculture
Women farmers need easier access to land: Ebonyi IFAD–VCDP
The SPC noted that most women pay for or rent land to cultivate.

NationWide
NSIWC, PTDF partner on capacity building, human development
The chairman said the two institutions have strategic roles to play in human capital development.

World
We will hunt you down anywhere, U.S. warns Nigerian Yahoo Boys
Mr Patel described the two extradited Nigerians as high-value suspects.







