Higher interest rate painful for borrowers but necessary to control inflation – Cardoso

The governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Olayemi Cardoso, has said that the decision to raise the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) to 27.25 percent is a bold move. 

According to him, higher interest rates, “while painful for borrowers, are necessary to curb excess money in circulation and control inflation.”

He noted that leadership is about making hard choices to secure long-term stability over short-term comfort “in moments like these.” 

Cardoso spoke in Lagos at the weekend while addressing members of the Harvard Club of Nigeria on the topic ‘Leadership in Challenging Times: Restoring Credibility, Building Trust and Containing Inflation.’ 

He also said the CBN’s decision to implement the Electronic Foreign Exchange Matching System (EFEMS) was rooted in the understanding that trust is essential to central banking. He said this was to enhance transparency and provide more accurate oversight of foreign exchange transactions. 

He said: “Trust is the currency of central banking. If the public loses trust in the institution, the efficacy of its policies diminishes. 

“Our decision to implement the Electronic Foreign Exchange Matching System (EFEMS) is rooted in this understanding. 

“By enhancing transparency and providing more accurate oversight of forex transactions, we send a strong signal that the CBN is serious about fair and efficient markets.”

Cardoso stated that leadership, especially as the head of a central bank, often requires making difficult and sometimes unpopular decisions. He emphasised that the bank is a listening institution, unafraid to reconsider decisions if they fail to meet its original objectives. 

“In the face of economic challenges, it is imperative to focus on core objectives—restoring the credibility of the institution, building trust in the financial system, and, most critically, containing inflation. These are not just strategic goals; they are foundational to any meaningful recovery,” he said. 

While noting that containing inflation remained the bank’s core mission, he acknowledged that the CBN was yet to meet its target. However, he said that recent declines reported by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in July and August 2024 showed that the CBN was moving in the right direction.