Business

Nigeria’s inflation drops for fifth consecutive time – NBS

Published

5 months ago

September 15, 2025

Nigeria’s headline inflation slowed for the fifth consecutive month in August 2025, providing some respite for consumers grappling with high living costs.

Data released by the National Bureau of Statistics on Monday showed that inflation dropped to 20.12 per cent, down from 21.88 per cent in July.

The figure represents a 1.76 percentage point decline on a month-on-month basis and a sharp fall from the 32.15 per cent recorded in August 2024.

The Consumer Price Index, which tracks the average change in prices of goods and services, inched up to 126.8 points in August from 125.9 points in July.

Month-on-month inflation stood at 0.74 per cent, lower than 1.99 per cent in July, pointing to slower price increases across the country.

The report read, “The Consumer Price Index rose to 126.8 in August 2025, reflecting a 0.9-point increase from the preceding month (125.9).

“In August 2025, the Headline inflation rate eased to 20.12 per cent relative to the July 2025 headline inflation rate of 21.88 per cent.

“Looking at the movement, the August 2025 Headline inflation rate showed a decrease of 1.76 per cent compared to the July 2025 Headline inflation rate.”

The statistics office noted that inflationary pressures remain uneven. Urban inflation eased to 19.75 per cent year-on-year in August from 34.58 per cent a year earlier, while rural inflation was slightly higher at 20.28 per cent compared with 29.95 per cent in August 2024.

On a monthly basis, inflation in urban areas slowed to 0.49 per cent from 1.86 per cent in July, while rural inflation came in at 1.38 per cent, down from 2.30 per cent.

The figures underline the sharper impact of inflation in rural communities, where transportation, distribution, and supply chain challenges continue to drive higher price growth than in urban centres.

Food inflation, which remains the strongest driver of Nigeria’s inflation basket, also moderated in August but stayed elevated.

The index declined to 21.87 per cent year-on-year from 37.52 per cent in August 2024. On a month-on-month basis, food inflation slowed to 1.65 per cent, compared with 3.12 per cent in July.

The moderation was linked to falling prices of staples including rice, guinea corn flour, maize flour, millet, semolina, and soya milk.

The twelve-month average for food inflation stood at 25.75 per cent, lower than the 36.99 per cent recorded a year earlier.

Despite the improvement, food prices remain high, especially in the northern states where insecurity and logistics bottlenecks have continued to disrupt supply chains.

Core inflation, which excludes volatile agricultural products and energy, was recorded at 20.33 per cent year-on-year in August, down from 27.58 per cent in August 2024.

However, the index rose on a monthly basis to 1.43 per cent from 0.97 per cent in July, reflecting pressures from categories such as housing, water, electricity, gas, transportation, education, and healthcare.

The movement suggests that while headline inflation is easing, non-food inflationary pressures remain persistent, raising concerns for policymakers and monetary authorities who monitor core inflation closely as an indicator of structural pressures.

Across the states, inflation trends remained mixed. Ekiti posted the highest year-on-year headline inflation at 28.17 per cent, followed by Kano at 27.27 per cent and Oyo at 26.58 per cent, while Zamfara at 11.82 per cent, Anambra at 14.16 per cent, and Enugu at 14.20 per cent recorded the lowest.

Food inflation was highest in Borno at 36.67 per cent, Kano at 30.44 per cent, and Akwa Ibom at 29.85 per cent, while Zamfara at 3.30 per cent, Yobe at 3.60 per cent, and Sokoto at 6.34 per cent recorded the lowest.

On a monthly basis, inflation rose fastest in Yobe at 9.20 per cent, Katsina at 8.59 per cent, and Sokoto at 6.57 per cent, while Enugu at –5.32 per cent, Taraba at –3.64 per cent, and Nasarawa at –3.56 per cent saw declines.

The announcement of the inflation slowdown comes just days before the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Monetary Policy Committee meeting scheduled for September 22 and 23, 2025.

The committee is expected to deliberate on whether to maintain or adjust the current 27.5 per cent benchmark interest rate.

While five straight months of disinflation could give the bank some policy flexibility, the persistence of food and core inflation suggests that the MPC may remain cautious in its decisions.

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Business

Lagos enforces 5% tax on gaming winnings

Published

5 hours ago

February 21, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

The Lagos State Government has begun enforcing a five per cent withholding tax on gaming winnings from licensed gaming platforms operating within the state.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority, Are Bashir, made this known in a public notice issued on Friday.

He stated that the policy, which takes immediate effect, applies to players’ net winnings and is to be deducted at the point of payout.

Bashir directed all licensed gaming operators in the state to comply immediately with the new tax framework in line with existing Nigerian tax laws and regulatory directives governing the gaming industry.

According to the notice, the five per cent deduction will be automatically withheld before winnings are paid to players and remitted to the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service as the statutory tax authority.

Bashir said the initiative is part of the state’s wider efforts to improve tax compliance, transparency and accountability in the fast-growing gaming sector.

“The measure forms part of Lagos’ broader drive to strengthen tax compliance, transparency, and accountability in the rapidly expanding gaming sector,” the notice read.

He said under the new arrangement, players are required to provide their National Identification Number (NIN) in line with Know Your Customer (KYC) regulations.

Bashir clarified that all deductions and remittances will be handled strictly by licensed gaming operators in accordance with regulatory requirements, adding that players will receive their winnings net of the statutory deduction, with proper records maintained to ensure transparency.

He further noted that the withholding tax deducted will serve as a tax credit to the player.

“All licensed gaming operators in Lagos State have now been formally directed to commence the deductions with immediate effect,” the notice said.

Bashir reiterated that the policy is aimed at ensuring effective regulation of the gaming industry while aligning both operators and players with existing tax obligations in the state.

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Business

Customs hand over seized N40.7m petrol to NMDPRA

Published

23 hours ago

February 20, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, on Friday handed over 1,650 jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit, worth N40.7 million, to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority for further investigation.

Addressing journalists at the handover ceremony held at the Customs Training College in Ikeja, Adeniyi said the seized fuel was intercepted at various locations, including Badagry, Owode, Seme, and other axes within Lagos State.

Represented by the National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, Deputy Comptroller-General Abubakar Aliyu, Adeniyi said the contraband was intercepted over the past nine weeks.

“In the space of nine weeks, our operatives intensified surveillance and enforcement across critical border communities. A total of 1,650 jerrycans of 25 litres each were seized along notorious smuggling routes, including Adodo, Seme, Owode Apa, Ajilete, Idjaun, Ilaro, Badagry, Idiroko, and Imeko. The total duty-paid value of the PMS is N40.7 million,” Adeniyi said.

He added that three tankers used to transport the fuel were carrying 60,000, 45,000, and 49,000 litres respectively, totalling 154,000 litres of PMS.

According to Adeniyi, the interception was the result of intelligence-driven operations and the vigilance of Operation Whirlwind in safeguarding Nigeria’s economy and energy security.

He explained that the transportation and movement of petroleum products are governed by regulatory frameworks and standard operating procedures designed to prevent diversion, smuggling, hoarding, and economic sabotage.

“These items contravened the established Standard Operating Procedures of Operation Whirlwind,” Adeniyi said, emphasising that such violations undermine government policy, distort market stability, and deprive the nation of critical revenue.

He warned that border corridors such as Owode, Seme, and Badagry remain sensitive economic arteries. “These routes have historically been exploited for illegal cross-border petroleum movement. Under our watch, there will be no safe haven for economic sabotage,” he said.

Adeniyi said the handover to NMDPRA reflects inter-agency collaboration. “While Customs enforces border control and anti-smuggling mandates, NMDPRA regulates distribution and ensures compliance with downstream laws. This collaboration ensures due process, transparency, and regulatory integrity,” he said.

Representing NMDPRA, Mrs. Grace Dauda said the agency ensures that petroleum products produced in Nigeria are consumed domestically. “It is unfortunate that some businessmen attempt to smuggle the product out of the country. The public must work together to stop economic sabotage,” she said.

Operation Whirlwind is a special tactical enforcement operation launched by the Nigeria Customs Service in 2024 to combat cross-border smuggling of petroleum products, particularly PMS, and other contraband that threaten Nigeria’s economic security. It was established in response to a surge in illegal fuel diversion across the country.

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Business

Stocks drop, oil rises after Trump Iran threat

Published

23 hours ago

February 20, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

Most Asia equities fell and oil prices rose on Friday after Donald Trump ratcheted up Middle East tensions by hinting at possible military strikes on Iran if it did not make a “meaningful deal” in nuclear talks.

The remarks fanned geopolitical concerns and cast a pall over a tentative rebound in markets following an AI-fuelled sell-off this month.

Traders are also looking ahead to the release of US data later in the day that will provide a fresh snapshot of the world’s top economy.

A slew of forecast-beating figures over the past few days have lifted optimism about the outlook but tempered expectations for more interest rate cuts.

The US president told the inaugural meeting of the “Board of Peace”, his initiative to secure stability in Gaza, that Tehran should make a deal.

“It’s proven to be over the years not easy to make a meaningful deal with Iran. We have to make a meaningful deal otherwise bad things happen,” he said, as he deployed warships, fighter jets and other military hardware to the region.

He warned that Washington “may have to take it a step further” without any agreement, adding: “You’re going to be finding out over the next probably 10 days.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier warned: “If the ayatollahs make a mistake and attack us, they will receive a response they cannot even imagine.”

The threats come days after the United States and Iran held a second round of Omani-mediated talks in Geneva as Washington looks to prevent the country from getting a nuclear bomb, which Tehran says it is not pursuing.

The prospect of a conflict in the crude-rich Middle East has sent oil prices surging this week, and they extended the gains Friday to sit at their highest levels since June.

Equity traders were also spooked.

Hong Kong fell as it reopened from a three-day break, while Tokyo, Sydney, Wellington and Bangkok were also down. However, Seoul continued to rally to a fresh record thanks to more tech buying, with Singapore, Manila and Mumbai also up.

City Index market analyst Matt Simpson said a strike was not certain.

“At its core, this looks like pressure and leverage rather than a prelude to invasion,” he wrote.

“The US is pairing military readiness with stalled nuclear negotiations, signalling it has credible strike options if talks fail. That doesn’t automatically translate into boots on the ground or a regime-change campaign.

“While military assets dominate headlines, diplomacy is still in motion. The fact talks are continuing at all suggests both sides are still probing for a diplomatic off-ramp before tensions harden further.”

Shares in Jakarta slipped even after Trump and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto reached a trade deal after months of wrangling.

The accord sets a 19 percent tariff on Indonesian goods entering the United States. The Southeast Asian country had been threatened with a potential 32 percent levy before the pact.

Jakarta also agreed to $33 billion in purchases of US energy commodities, agricultural products and aviation-related goods, including Boeing aircraft.

– Key figures at around 0700 GMT –

Tokyo – Nikkei 225: DOWN 1.1 percent at 56,825.70 (close)

Hong Kong – Hang Seng Index: DOWN 0.7 percent at 26,508.98

Shanghai – Composite: Closed for holiday

West Texas Intermediate: UP 0.9 percent at $67.05 per barrel

Brent North Sea Crude: UP 0.9 percent at $72.27 per barrel

Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1756 from $1.1767 on Thursday

Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.3448 from $1.3458

Euro/pound: DOWN at 87.42 pence from 87.43 pence

Dollar/yen: UP at 155.17 yen from 155.07 yen

New York – Dow: DOWN 0.5 percent at 49,395.16 (close)

London – FTSE 100: DOWN 0.6 percent at 10,627.04 (close)