Inflation: CBN ‘ll adhere to conventional mandate – Cardoso Cardoso.

Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief
The governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Olayemi Cardoso, says he is optimistic that the decisions of the bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) would tame inflation in the country.

Mr. Cardoso stated this in an interview with Bloomberg in London on Tuesday.

The CBN boss also gave insights on the current state of the market, mainly focusing on the stability of the Naira and inflation rates.

He noted a deceleration in the month-on-month inflation rates, highlighting it as a positive development.

Cardoso assured that the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) members remained vigilant in monitoring inflation trends and ensuring a moderation of inflation numbers.

“MPC members will continue to monitor the trajectory and are determined to ensure that they put inflation under control,” he.said.

Highlighting a period of stability following previous volatility in the foreign exchange market, he expressed optimism about the recent improvements in liquidity and return of confidence to the market.

The governor attributed the new development to increased liquidity and a calmer approach from market participants on both the buy and sell sides.

His words, “In the past, people were panicking and front-loading their requests.

Now, a lot of that has calmed down. There’s no inclination to do that because liquidity has returned to the market.”

Cardoso also highlighted the significant achievement of merging disparate exchange rates into a more unified system.

“We had two different rates; right now, we more or less have one rate. And we believe that this is good. It allows companies to plan,” he stated, emphasising the importance of a predictable exchange rate for economic planning and investment.

He expressed confidence in the current market dynamics, where willing buyers and sellers operate freely, noting that it had contributed to the stability of the Naira.

He, however, stressed the importance of continuous observation and management to ensure the market benefits all participants.

The CBN boss noted the crucial role of coordinated monetary and fiscal policies in achieving economic stability, adding that the collaboration was essential for managing the macroeconomic fundamentals that influence the market, aiming to provide the best value for the Naira.

Nigeria’s annual inflation rose to a 28-year high of 33.95% last month, but recent data from the National Bureau of Statistics reveals that the month-on-month inflation rate had slowed for the third consecutive month, which the apex attributed to

the effectiveness of its monetary policy tightening measures.