Nigeria’s benchmark interest rate is likely to remain above 22 percent through 2026 as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) prioritises inflation control and currency stability over growth acceleration, according to economists and analysts polled by BusinessDay.

The CBN has kept monetary policy tight after a series of aggressive hikes aimed at curbing inflation and restoring confidence in the naira. While recent data suggest tentative macroeconomic improvement, policymakers have shown little inclination toward rapid easing, opting instead for a

Nigeria’s benchmark interest rate is likely to remain above 22 percent through 2026 as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) prioritises inflation control and currency stability over growth acceleration, according to economists and analysts polled by BusinessDay.

The CBN has kept monetary policy tight after a series of aggressive hikes aimed at curbing inflation and restoring confidence in the naira. While recent data suggest tentative macroeconomic improvement, policymakers have shown little inclination toward rapid easing, opting instead for a