Nigeria c.bank expected to keep rates steady at 6 pct

By Randy Fabi

ABUJA (Reuters) - Nigeria's central bank is expected to leave its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 6.0 percent on Tuesday, maintaining its expansionary stance despite rising inflation worries, analysts said.

The monetary policy committee, which has been meeting since Monday, is scheduled to announce its decision at around 2 p.m.

(1300 GMT).

Getting credit flowing in Nigeria has been a key objective of Central Bank Governor Lamido Sanusi since a $4 billion bailout of nine weakly capitalised banks in August and October shook confidence and led banks to tighten lending further.

But inflation is picking up, exacerbated by the country's import dependence and by periodic fuel shortages which have triggered spikes in transport costs and lifted the price of everything from food to building materials.

"With the resolution process aimed at recapitalising Nigeria's banking sector still underway, a further change in interest rates is not expected," said Razia Khan, London-based head of research for Africa at Standard Chartered.

"This is despite concerns over rising inflation, driven by food prices and opportunistic pricing ahead of planned fuel sector deregulation," she said.

Consumer inflation rose to 12.4 percent year-on-year in November from 11.6 percent the previous month, the Bureau of National Statistics said last month.