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Naira Depreciation, Subsidy Removal Push Inflation To 22.79%

Published

3 years ago

July 18, 2023

Editor

Nigeria’s inflation rate rose further to 22.79 per cent Year-on-Year (YoY) in June 2023 from 22.41 per cent previous month of May.

But analysts appear surprised that the increase was moderate, beating their projections at the backdrop of the reforms in the petroleum and foreign exchange sectors which pushed up prices in June.

However, the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, said the food inflation rate quickened YoY to 25.25 per cent in June from 24.82 per cent in May.

The Bureau stated: “On a YoY basis, the Headline inflation rate was 4.19 percent points higher compared to the rate recorded in June 2022, which was 18.6 percent.

“This shows that the headline inflation rate (YoY basis) increased in June 2023 when compared to the same month in the preceding year (i.e., June 2022).

“On a year-on-year basis, the Urban inflation rate in June 2023 was 24.33 percent, this was 5.23 percent points higher compared to the 19.09 percent recorded in June 2022.

“The Rural inflation rate in June 2023 was 21.37 percent on a YoY basis; this was 3.25 percentage points higher compared to the 18.13 percent recorded in June 2022.”

On food inflation, it said: “The food inflation rate in June 2023 was 25.25 percent on a YoY basis; this was 4.65 percentage points higher relative to the rate recorded in June 2022 (20.6 percent).

“The rise in Food inflation on a YoY basis was caused by increases in prices of oil and fat, bread and cereals, fish, potatoes, yam and other tubers, fruits, meat, vegetable, milk, cheese, and eggs.”

Commenting on the development, analysts at CardinalStone Research said: “The outturn defied expectations and printed materially lower than our projection of 25.0%, with deviations stemming from a positive surprise in the core inflation basket.

“We had anticipated that the 175.2% jump in average PMS prices (following subsidy removal) would have resulted in a 300-400bases points (bps) surge in Month-on-Month (MoM) headline inflation.

“However, the latest report revealed that while all its subcomponents increased by an average of 13bps MoM, core inflation surprisingly moderated by 7bps.”

However, the analysts added, “Despite the shock numbers, we see latitude for more inflationary pressures in the coming months partly due to the lagged impact of subsidy removal and its pass-through to broader prices. In addition, the recent uptick in parallel market rates (possibly stoked by seasonal demand) will likely add another layer of pressure on prices.”

Commenting as well, analysts at Cordros Research said: “We expect pressures on food inflation to remain intact in July, as higher transport costs will likely continue to filter into food prices. In addition, we understand that Russia is considering terminating the Black Sea grain deal (which expires on 17 July) as part of the agreement concerning the country is yet to be fulfilled. Accordingly, we expect the preceding to pose further risk to imported food prices in the near term”.

“Finally, July marks the beginning of the lean season in the north amid high flooding in the southern region. Thus, the food demand-supply gap is likely to remain wide. Therefore, we expect food prices to rise by 2.10% in July.”
VANGUARD

Related Topics:#Naira #Tinubu Inflation subsidy

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Edo NLC Crisis: Caretaker Committee Drags Rival Exco, Govt To Court

Published

3 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The division in the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), took a new dimension on Wednesday as Prof. Monday Monday Lewis Igbafen-led caretaker committee approached the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Benin Judicial Division, seeking to affirm its authority and restrain a rival executive from parading itself as the council’s leadership.

Joined in the suit are the Edo State Government, the Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.

In a suit marked: NICN/BEN/12/2026, and filed before the court in Benin, the claimant, Igbafen, acting for himself and on behalf of the NLC Caretaker Committee in Edo State, is challenging the continued occupation of the union’s secretariat and control of its assets by members of the Bernard Egwakhide-led factional State Executive Council.

The claimants are asking the court to declare that the caretaker committee (Igbafen-led faction), constituted on August 11, 2025, by the NLC national leadership, remains the only lawful authority to administer the affairs of the Edo State Council pending fresh elections.

They further seek a declaration that the continued occupation of the NLC secretariat located at No. 1 Teboga Road, Benin City, as well as the retention of union assets, financial records, and official instruments by the defendants, is illegal and void.

The suit also prays for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from parading themselves as officials of the NLC Edo Council or interfering with the functions of the caretaker committee.

In addition, the claimants are seeking a mandatory order compelling the defendants to immediately hand over the secretariat, vehicles, financial documents, cheque books, and all other properties belonging to the union.

The caretaker committee further urged the court to restrain the state government and its officials from interfering in the internal affairs of the union, alleging undue support for the dissolved executive.

The claimants further demand N50 million as general and exemplary damages against the defendants for alleged unlawful usurpation of office and acts prejudicial to the administration of the council.

According to court documents made available to our correspondent, the crisis followed the dissolution of the Edo State Council by the NLC National Executive Council on February 27, 2025, over allegations of misconduct, anti-union activities, and constitutional violations.

However, the matter has yet to be assigned a hearing date.

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Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru

Published

9 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Lazio midfielder, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is a subject of interest from three Premier League clubs, according to Sky Sports.

Lazio reportedly rejected offers from Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth for the Nigeria international in January.

La Biancolesti are bracing for more interest in Dele-Bashiru ahead of the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports.

The 24-year-old has two years left on his contract with the Serie A club.

The attacking midfielder joined the Rome-based club from Turkish Super Lig outfit Hatayspor in 2024.

He has been a regular feature for Lazio this season.

News

Xenophobic Attacks: Nigerian Students To Picket MTN, MultiChoice, Other Businesses

Published

9 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS South-West Zone D, has announced plans to picket South African companies in Nigeria following the ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.

DAILY POST reports that some Nigerians were recently killed in South Africa over the violent attacks.

A statement issued to newsmen by Comrade Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, Coordinator, NANS South-West, Zone D, said that the association is mobilizing to take decisive and lawful action by organizing peaceful picketing and mass advocacy against South African business interests operating in Nigeria.

“We categorically state that the continued targeting of Nigerians under any guise is unacceptable and must come to an immediate end.

“This will include major corporations such as MTN Group and MultiChoice Group. It is morally indefensible for businesses to thrive in an environment where the lives of Nigerians are protected, while Nigerians are subjected to fear and violence elsewhere.

“This contradiction will no longer be tolerated,” the statement said.