Nigeria, Feb. 24 -- The Monetary Policy Committee of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Tuesday reduced the benchmark interest rate to 26.5 per cent.

CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso announced the decision at the conclusion of the bank's two-day Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting, held from 23 to 24 February in Abuja.

The central bank cut its lending rate by 50 basis points from the 27 per cent it maintained in November 2025.

The CBN boss revealed that the committee's decision is based on balanced evaluation of risks and sustained exchange rates.

"The committee's decision was premised on a balanced evaluation of risks to the outlook, which suggests that the ongoing disinflation trajectory would continue, largely supported by the la...