Amid Higher Energy, Food, Commodity Prices, Inflation Rebounds to 15.38% Severe in Bayelsa, Sokoto, Bauchi, others
James Emejo in Abuja and Dike Onwuamaeze in Lagos
The Consumer Price Index (CPI), which measures the rate of change in prices of goods and services,
CPPE says resurgence threatens gains of disinflation
increased to 15.38 per cent in March, compared to 15.06 per cent in February and 27.35 per cent in
the corresponding month of 2025, National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said yesterday.
This is the first increase in headline inflation after 13 consecutive months of disinflation.
The rebound could be attributed Continued on page 8
Dangote, Pope Leo XIV, Trump, Xi Jinping, Others Named in TIME 100 Most Influential People for 2026... Page 7 Thursday 16 April, 2026 Vol 31. No 11330. Price: N400
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Gulf Crisis: IMF Plans $50bn Support for Nigeria, Other Vulnerable Nations
Oil prices stable at $95 as US-Iran talks raise hope War ‘very close to over,’ Trump says Iran’s military threatens Red Sea shipping if US blockade continues
Eromosele Abiodun, Nume Ekeghe in Washington DC and Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) disclosed yesterday that it was preparing a potential $50 billion
support package aimed at cushioning Nigeria and other vulnerable economies from the economic
shockwaves of rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, where fears of supply disruption have kept
global oil markets on edge. The proposed intervention comes as crude prices held steady around
$95 per barrel on Wednesday, reflectContinued on page 8
Atiku: Tinubu Can’t Win Free, Fair Election in 2027 Yilwatda: ADC, Others Should Put Their House in Order Ex-VP says 2027 will be his last shot at presidency
Emmanuel Addeh and Alex Enumah in Abuja
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar yesterday declared that President Bola Tinubu stands no chance of securing re-election in 2027, citing what he described as the administration’s poor performance and given the heavyweights in the opposition. Atiku argued that the current administration has failed to meet expectations across key sectors, insisting that Nigerians are already bearing the brunt of policies that have deepened hardship and weakened confidence in government. Besides, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Babachir Lawal, alleged that the Tinubu government is pushing for a one-party system in the country. But in a media chat, the leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) urged the opposition Continued on page 8
MEETING WITH THE WORLD BANK PRESIDENT...
L-R: Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Olayemi Cardoso; the President of the World Bank Group, Mr. Ajay Banga; and the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, following a strategic meeting as part of the Nigerian delegation’s engagements at the Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in Washington on Tuesday, April 14, 2026.