necessities, including three square meals. This information was disclosed by the National Bureau of Statistics September Consumer Price Index, which measures changes in the prices of goods and services. Notably, this 26.72% figure is the highest inflation rate recorded in September, with food inflation playing a significant role at 30.64%.
The National Bureau of Statistics attributes the soaring food inflation to rising prices of oil and fat, bread and cereals, potatoes, yam, and other tubers, fish, fruit, meat, vegetables, and dairy products like milk, cheese, and eggs.
A food trader at Wuse Market, Aishat Mabe, confirmed that prices for items such as eggs, beans, and spaghetti have increased by at least 20% in the past three weeks. For instance, a crate of eggs, which cost N2500 last week, now sells for N2900. This situation is causing concern.
This development compounds the challenges facing Nigeria’s economy, with over 200 million people already grappling with a struggling economy. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, which is just four months old, is dealing with the issues of rising inflation, debt management, and a forex crisis.
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, and the new Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Olayemi Cardoso, have their work cut out to address these economic challenges and prevent an impending poverty crisis.
Speaking to DAILY POST, economist Prof. Segun Ajibola stressed the importance of tackling inflation as a priority. He suggested that Nigeria’s inflation is driven by rising production costs due to factors like energy costs and exchange rate fluctuations. He believes that monetary policies alone won’t suffice and that a comprehensive approach involving non-monetary measures is needed.
Mazi Okechukwu Unegbu, former President of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, emphasized the need for Nigeria to utilize its resources effectively, reduce the cost of governance, and combat corruption to control inflation. Recovering stolen funds from previous administrations was also mentioned as a way to boost the economy.
Dr. Muda Yusuf, the Director at the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise, highlighted the importance of addressing high energy costs by declaring an emergency in the power and energy sectors to control inflation.
Finally, Idakolo Gbolade, CEO of SD & D Capital Management, stressed the urgency of implementing policy measures to alleviate the suffering of Nigerians. He called for the government to focus on increasing revenue, stabilizing the Naira, and creating confidence in the economy to combat inflation effectively.