CBN Injects Additional $250m into Forex Market

In its relentless effort to maintained foreign exchange liquidity, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday intervened with another sum of $250 million.

A breakdown of the intervention indicated that the wholesale sector was offered the sum of $100 million, just as the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) window received a boost of $80 million. Those requiring foreign exchange to address needs such as Business/Personal Travel Allowances, school tuition, medicals, etc. were allotted the total sum of $70 million.

The bank’s acting Director in charge of Corporate Communications, Isaac Okorafor, who disclosed this, reiterated that the interventions had ensured stability in the market, even as he stressed that the CBN remained committed to maintaining transparency in the market.

According to him, CBN had taken measures to check the activities of speculators and shield the currency from attacks, while also maintaining the international value of the naira. While assuring that authorised dealers had enough funds to meet the foreign exchange needs of customers, Okorafor urged all to adhere to the extant guidelines on the sale of forex in the Nigerian forex market.

He therefore advised those in genuine need of forex to continue to approach their respective banks for purchase. He said the bank remained optimistic that the Nigerian currency will fare strongly against other notable currencies around the world.

On the convergence target of the bank between the forex rates at the inter-bank and the Bureau de Change (BDC), he said the goal would be attained if all stakeholders played by the rules.