Inflation in Nigeria has been on the rise since August 2019 when the country shut its land borders with its neighbours to curb smuggling.

It later became worse with the effect of the novel coronavirus on the global economy.

However, latest report on the consumer price index (CPI) by National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Friday showed that the inflation rate for the month rose by about 0.16 per cent point, from 12.40 per cent attained in May.

The border closure had affected the availability of rice, vegetable oil, frozen food, and other staples, causing prices of the commodities to be on the increase.

In the new report for June, the composite food index rose by 15.18 per cent in June 2020 compared to 15.04 per cent in May 2020.

This rise in the food index was caused by increases in prices of Bread and Cereals, Potatoes, Yam and other tubers, Fruits, Oils and Fats, Meat, Fish and Vegetables.

Also, the Core inflation, which excludes the prices of volatile agricultural produce stood at 10.13 per cent in June 2020, up by 0.01 percent when compared with 10.12 per cent recorded in May 2020.

“The highest increases were recorded in prices of Medical services, Hospital services, Passenger transport by road, Pharmaceutical products, Motor cars, Paramedical Services, Maintenance and repair of personal transport equipment, Bicycles, Motorcycles, Vehicle spare parts, and Other services in respect of personal transport equipment.”

Inflation in states

In June 2020, the all items inflation, when compared to June 2019, was the highest in Bauchi, Sokoto, and Ebonyi while Cross River, Lagos, and Kwara states recorded the slowest rise in headline Year on Year inflation.

For food inflation year on year, inflation was recorded highest in Sokoto, Plateau and Abuja while Lagos Ogun and Bauchi recorded the slowest rise.

“On month on month basis, however, June 2020 food inflation was highest in Kogi, Benue, and Zamfara, while Ondo, Anambraand Lagos recorded the slowest rise.”

‘Rise expected’

According to an economic analyst, Mr Basil Enwegbara, the rise in inflation is to be expected with the various intervention programmes being done by Central Bank of Nigeria.

He also said the rise is not necessarily an indication of a bad economy,

“That an economy has high inflation does not mean the economy is bad nor does it mean an economy is doing great (if) it has low inflation.”

He explained that high inflation should be expected if the productivity of a country is low, if there is high level of unemployment,  if there is a high import-dependency and if a growing economy is investing.

“When investing, you print more money, which is what CBN is doing through its intervention fund, because there will be more naira in circulation.

Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)

“Nigeria is currently undergoing economic restructure. What the CBN is doing now should have been done before now. It is what the United States did in the 1930s when it employed Mr  Marriner Eccles.”

Eccles was US Fed Chairman who revolutionised central banking by creating an avenue for small businesses to thrive and create jobs.

“He pumped an unbelievable amount of new money into America’s economy by printing it. Even though it caused an unprecedented high level of inflation, it grew the economy at a historic level,”  Enwegbara said.

PT