Business

Stop Interest Hiking, Experts Tell CBN As Apex Bank Raises Rate Again

Published

1 year ago

November 27, 2024

Ekwutos Blog

Stop Interest Hiking, Experts Tell CBN As Apex Bank Raises Rate Again

By Chris UGWU, Kasarahchi ANIAGOLU Nov 27 2024

Some financial experts have said that the CBN’s 25 basis points rate hike signals a potential pause in interest rate increases starting next year, emphasizing the need for relief for small businesses facing high financing costs.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had raised its interest rate by 25 basis points, increasing it from 27.25 per cent to 27.50 per cent, in response to the country’s rising inflation.

This decision was announced by CBN Governor Mr. Yemi Cardoso, who also chairs the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), following their meeting in Abuja.

The MPC unanimously agreed to the hike as part of ongoing efforts to address inflationary pressures in the economy.

The analysts in an exclusive interview with THE WHISTLER noted that despite the CBN’s tightening measures, inflation remains high, with benefits mainly seen in exchange rate stability due to foreign portfolio inflows.

They agreed that the rate hike was expected due to rising inflation, warning that it will increase business financing costs, which could be passed to consumers and further strain household budgets.

Reacting to the development, Nigeria’s first Professor of Capital Market, Uche Uwaleke indicated that the move might signal an imminent pause in the CBN’s aggressive monetary tightening cycle.

Uwaleke noted that the marginal increase aligns with analysts’ expectations, suggesting a potential shift in the CBN’s strategy.

“The marginal rate increase is a signal that the CBN may completely pause or apply the brake on interest rate hikes starting from the first quarter of next year,” he explained.

The professor emphasized the necessity of a pause, citing the rising cost of funds and its adverse impact on credit access, particularly for small businesses. “This needs to happen so that small businesses can breathe,” he remarked.

Despite the CBN’s sustained tightening measures, headline inflation remains stubbornly high, reversing recent gains and rising further.

Uwaleke observed that the benefits of the rate hikes have been most apparent in the foreign exchange market, where increased foreign portfolio inflows have contributed to exchange rate stability in the official window.

However, the broader economic picture remains concerning. The Q3 2024 GDP report released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed weak performance in the agriculture and manufacturing sectors, a development Uwaleke attributed to rising interest and exchange rates.

He stressed the need for coordinated efforts between monetary and fiscal authorities to navigate the country’s macroeconomic challenges effectively.

“The current macro-economic challenges make it imperative for a proper synergy between monetary and fiscal policies,” he advised.

Managing Director of Arthur Steven Asset Management Limited and former President of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS), Mr. Olatunde Amolegbe also shared his views on the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) decision to raise the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) by 25 basis points, moving it from 27.25 per cent to 27.50 per cent.

Amolegbe noted that the rate hike was widely anticipated, particularly given the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) report showing inflation had increased by over 100 basis points in the previous month.

“The truth is that this was somewhat expected,” Amolegbe stated, acknowledging that many analysts had predicted this adjustment, with some even anticipating a higher increase due to ongoing price instability across various sectors of the economy.

He further pointed out that the government’s fiscal and structural measures, aimed at curbing inflation, have yet to yield immediate results.

“These measures typically take time to have the desired impact,” he said, adding that as a result, monetary policy has remained the primary tool available to the CBN in its efforts to stabilize the economy.

“This leaves us with monetary policy as the only effective tool to prevent the economy from spiraling out of control,” he explained.

However, Amolegbe also warned of the potential negative consequences of the rate hike on businesses and consumers.

“The likely impact of this move will be a further increase in financing costs for businesses,” he stated.

These higher costs are expected to be passed on to consumers, potentially raising prices on goods and services and putting additional strain on household budgets.

Amolegbe concluded by emphasizing the delicate balance the CBN faces in managing inflation and ensuring that the economy does not overheat, while acknowledging the challenges that persist in the broader economic landscape.

Managing Director of Highcap Securities Limited, Mr. David Adonri also weighed in on the Central Bank of Nigeria’s continued use of interest rate hikes as a tool to manage inflation, noting that while effective in the short term, it remains insufficient in addressing the underlying economic issues.

In an exclusive interview, Adonri explained that interest rate adjustments are a critical component of monetary policy designed to curb inflation until more sustainable fiscal measures can be implemented to address the structural causes of economic imbalance.

“Interest rates are a potent tool for managing inflation in the short term,” Adonri stated.

“However, their effectiveness is often limited when coupled with expansionary fiscal policies,” he added.

He further emphasized that the ongoing fiscal expansion, alongside factors such as insecurity and currency depreciation, continues to fuel inflation.

These persistent challenges leave the CBN’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) with few options but to maintain its contractionary monetary stance.

“As long as fiscal policies remain expansionary and the factors driving inflation persist, the MPC will have no choice but to continue raising interest rates,” he explained.

Adonri also cautioned that allowing inflation to spiral out of control would have devastating consequences for both consumers and producers. “The impact of unchecked inflation would be far more harmful than the effects of higher interest rates,” he warned, underlining the importance of the MPC’s approach in preventing further economic instability.

Despite the negative effects on certain sectors of the economy, Adonri acknowledged that the interest rate hikes provide a silver lining for investors in debt instruments.

“The bonanza for investors in debt assets will continue as the rates rise,” he noted, as higher interest rates typically make fixed-income investments more attractive.

In conclusion, while the CBN’s monetary policy actions are necessary to address the current inflationary pressures, Adonri stressed the need for a coordinated effort between monetary and fiscal policies to tackle the structural issues contributing to inflation and ensure sustainable economic growth in the long term.

Meanwhile, Cardoso called for critical synergy between the monetary and fiscal sectors of the economy to achieve price stability and curtail inflationary pressures on food and other commodities.

According to Cardoso, food prices remain a key driver of inflation, compounded by rising energy costs that affect production factors.

“The recent increase in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) has also impacted the cost of production and distribution of food items and manufactured goods.

“The Committee was optimistic that the full deregulation of the downstream sub-sector of the petroleum industry would eliminate scarcity and stabilize price levels in the short to medium term.

“Members, thus, reiterated the need to deepen collaboration between the monetary and fiscal authorities to ensure the achievement of our synchronized objectives of price stability and sustainable growth.”

Cardoso highlighted members’ concerns over persistent exchange rate pressures, driven by continued high demand in the market.

Cardoso expressed satisfaction with the resilience and stability of the banking sector despite significant external and internal challenges.

He outlined key financial soundness indicators, stating that the “Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR), Non-Performing Loan (NPL) ratio, and Liquidity Ratio (LR), among others, remain strong.”

Business

Fabergé egg given as Easter gift to mother of Russia’s last emperor sells for record £22.9m

Published

2 days ago

December 3, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

A diamond-encrusted Fabergé egg that Russia‘s last emperor gave to his mother as an Easter gift has sold for nearly £23million.

Tsar Nicholas II gifted the Winter Egg to Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna in 1913, five years before he was murdered along with his wife and children after the Russian Revolution.

Tsar Nicholas II

Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna

The egg went under the hammer at Londonauction house Christie’s yesterday.

An unnamed buyer stumped up £22,895,000, smashing the previous global record of £8.9million that was set in 2007 when the famous Rothschild Egg was sold.

Carved from delicate rock crystal, the Winter Egg is an icy-looking orb studded with around 4,500 rose-cut diamonds, and stands at only five-and-a-half inches (14 centimetres) tall.

Carl Fabergé, the master jeweller whose creations bedazzled Russia, created 50 Imperial Easter Eggs for the then-ruling Romanov family over a 31-year period, making them incredibly rare and valuable.

They were commissioned as Easter gifts in a tradition started by Tsar Alexander III in the 1880s.

Nicholas II, Alexander’s son, had an annual standing order for two Easter eggs to be made for his mother and his wife, until the fall of the Romanovs in the 1917 Russian Revolution.

A diamond-encrusted Fabergé egg that Russia ‘s last emperor gave to his mother as an Easter gift has sold for nearly £23million

Today, only 43 of the Imperial Easter Eggs remain, with seven missing.

The ‘exquisite’ Winter Egg had a pre-sale estimate of more than £20million.

Christie’s Margo Oganesian said: ‘Today’s result sets a new world auction record for a work by Faberge, reaffirming the enduring significance of this masterpiece.’

She added the sale celebrated ‘the rarity and brilliance of what is widely regarded as one of Faberge’s finest creations, both technically and artistically’.

The imperial eggs have enjoyed renewed interest on the art market in recent decades, mainly among wealthy Russians keen to acquire a piece of their country’s history.

Beyond its opulence, it is the ‘technique and craftsmanship’ that makes the Winter Egg exceptional, according to Ms Oganesian.

‘The Winter Egg is truly one of the rarest items that you can find,’ she explained. ‘It’s really hard to comprehend how Faberge created it.’

The egg and its base are sculpted from crystal featuring diamond-encrusted platinum snowflakes.

Carved from delicate rock crystal, the Winter Egg is an icy-looking orb studded with around 4,500 rose-cut diamonds, and stands at only five-and-a-half inches (14 centimetres) tall. Inside, it contains a bouquet of flowers made of white quartz anemones held by gold wire stems, gathered in a platinum basket

The egg and its base are sculpted from crystal featuring diamond-encrusted platinum snowflakes

Tsar Nicholas and his wife, Empress Alexandra, with their five children. They were all murdered in 1918

Inside, it contains a bouquet of flowers made of white quartz anemones held by gold wire stems, gathered in a platinum basket.

Like many other Romanov possessions, the egg bears witness to Russian history. It was transferred from Saint Petersburg to Moscow in 1920 after the revolution.

As with many other Imperial Eggs, it was sold by the Soviet government to generate foreign currency and was acquired by London jeweller Wartski between 1929 and 1933, according to Christie’s.

The Winter Egg was subsequently part of several British collections but was considered lost from 1975, the auction house said in an essay attached to the sale lot online.

‘For 20 years, experts and specialists lost sight of it until 1994, when it was rediscovered and brought to Christie’s for sale in Geneva,’ said Ms Oganesian.

Eight years later, in 2002, it was sold again for a record $9.6 million in New York.

Business

FirstPower Limited Gets License to Distribute Electricity in Anambra

Published

1 week ago

November 27, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

The Anambra State Electricity Regulatory Commission (ASERC) has issued an operational license to First Power Electricity Distribution Company Limited (FPEDC) for electricity distribution in the state.

During a ceremony in Awka, Prof. Frank Okafor, Chairman/CEO of ASERC, presented an interim license to FPEDC, authorizing the company to operate for one year.

The license follows a Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) order that transferred regulatory oversight of the electricity market to the state after the inauguration of five commissioners on 9 October 2025.

Prof. Okafor explained that the move aligns with Governor Charles Soludo’s administration, which is committed to upgrading the state’s electricity infrastructure and promoting industrialisation.

He noted that, under Section 33 of the Anambra State Electricity Law (2025), only licence‑holders may participate in the state’s electricity market.

Existing operators that are already serving customers must regularise their licences through a thorough process, and ASERC has therefore granted interim licences to NERC‑licensed companies already operating in Anambra.

Dr. Ernest Mupwaya of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) received the certificate on behalf of FPEDC.

He praised the Electricity Act 2023 for empowering states to develop their own regulatory frameworks and highlighted Anambra’s leadership in implementing these reforms.

According to Dr. Mupwaya, the collaboration among the Anambra State Government, ASERC, and industry stakeholders has produced a “model of constructive engagement, technical depth, and transparent coordination,” paving the way for a competitive electricity market in the state.

He added that EEDC and FPEDC are fully aligned with Anambra’s development goals.

The ongoing reforms are expected to attract investment, expand the network, improve customer service, and modernise the electricity value chain. “Our growth plans for FirstPower are deliberately structured to complement the state’s industrialisation agenda, urban expansion, agricultural development and SME competitiveness,” Dr. Mupwaya said.

He expressed confidence that the company will exceed the expectations of the state government and the people of Anambra.

The interim licence will allow FPEDC to continue its operations while the commission completes the full licensing procedure.

ASERC has pledged to ensure that all licence‑holders adhere to the standards set out in the Anambra State Electricity Law, thereby safeguarding consumers and supporting the state’s broader economic objectives.

Earlier in his reaction, Managing Director Firstpower Electricity Distribution Company Okechukwu Okafor, said the licensing was to formalise the company’s presence and inform stakeholders that this is no longer EEDC in charge but an independent body saddled with the responsibility of distributing electricity in Anambra. “We are going to partner with the industrialists, the state government, and Ndi Anambra so that they will understand that our presence is geared towards a better solution to electricity. We want to change the narrative and target the customers to be happy. We need to take the message to them, provided there is goodwill. We hope that by the end of 2027, the billing rights of the customer will be metered for easy accountability.

Business

Ihedioha denies involvement with EEDC

Published

1 week ago

November 27, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Says he revived Ahiajoku, advanced electricity in Imo

The former Governor of Imo State and ex- Deputy Speaker of House of Reps, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, has denied involvement with the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), neither does he own any share in the company as speculated in the quarters by some mischief makers.

Ihedioha, in a statement he signed and issued to the media on Wednesday, hinted that as a Governor, he championed efforts to improve power supply in the state, a move he said gained more currency with the establishment of Imo State Power and Rural Electrification Agency (IPOREA).
He also mentioned that he revived Ahiajoku Lecture Series with the intent to advance the cultural heritage of the Igbo race.

“My attention has been drawn to baseless and completely unfounded allegations suggesting that I, as the purported “owner” of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company EEDC, am sabotaging the ongoing Imo State Power Project. Let me state firmly and unequivocally that these claims are false. I do not own EEDC in any form, whether whole or part, beneficial or nominal. I am not on its board, I hold no shares and do not participate in or influence its corporate decisions in any way. Those peddling these narratives are relying on fiction, not fact.

“Notably, I acknowledge and commend the current Imo State Government for its ongoing power initiatives.

“Any genuine effort to expand energy access, strengthen infrastructure and improve the wellbeing of our people deserves encouragement. As Governor, I championed this same vision when I established the Imo State Power and Rural Electrification Agency (IPOREA), the first dedicated institutional framework created to advance electricity development in the state.

“It was established to provide stability, coordination and long-term structure for power solutions in Imo. I remain proud of that foundation and I welcome any progressive steps taken today that align with the goal of a more prosperous and energy secure Imo.

“In the spirit of continuity and cultural advancement, I am pleased to recall that I revived the renowned Ahiajoku Lecture Series during my administration after nearly a decade of dormancy.
“Ahiajoku represents the intellectual soul of our people and its preservation is essential to our cultural identity. I am therefore delighted that the current administration has also reinstated the program, reinforcing a pedigree that enriches Imo’s traditional and academic heritage.

“My commitment to the development of Imo State, its institutions, its people and its future remains unwavering. I will continue to support any initiative that strengthens our state, uplifts our citizens and promotes progress grounded in truth, integrity and vision”, Ihedioha stressed.