The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Tuesday announced a 50-basis point reduction in the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR), lowering it from 27.5 percent to 27 percent, as part of efforts to strengthen economic recovery and consolidate disinflation gains.
Governor of the Bank, Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, disclosed the decision during a post-Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) briefing in Abuja, following the Committee’s 302nd meeting.
Cardoso explained that the MPR cut reflects sustained disinflation over the past five months and projected further declines in inflation through the remainder of 2025. The adjustments to the standing facilities corridor are intended to improve liquidity management and provide clearer signals to financial markets.
The move comes after the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported that Nigeria’s inflation eased to 20.12 percent in August 2025, down from 21.88 percent in July, signaling that previous rounds of monetary tightening are yielding results.
In addition, Nigeria’s real GDP grew by 4.23 percent in Q2 2025, driven by strong performances in both oil and non-oil sectors. External reserves have also risen to nearly $42 billion, providing additional buffers for monetary stability.
Economic analysts welcomed the measures, noting that moderation in inflation justifies a cautious easing of monetary conditions. Dr. Muda Yusuf, CEO of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), said the decision would help stimulate credit flow, particularly to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and critical sectors.
He urged the CBN to “Calibrate CRR and MPR downward as inflation moderates to create a more enabling credit environment. Complement monetary tightening with supply-side measures to address structural inflation drivers.” Dr. Yusuf noted that while the CBN’s tight monetary stance has curbed inflation, it has also limited access to affordable credit for businesses and households.
The CBN stressed that the package of measures balances the need to sustain disinflation with the requirement to maintain adequate liquidity in the banking sector to support economic growth.