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CBN Grants Banks Authority to Trade Foreign Exchange Freely

14Jun

By adminNo Comments

Economy, Finance, News, Nigeria, Trade

CBN Grants Banks Authority to Trade Foreign Exchange Freely

In a significant development, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has issued authorization to commercial banks, allowing them to engage in the unrestricted trading of foreign exchange at market-determined rates. This move effectively empowers banks to sell forex based on prevailing market rates, marking a departure from the previous tightly controlled exchange rate system. Notably, some banks have already set the USD to Naira rate within the range of N699 to N750, indicating that Nigeria is transitioning towards a freely floating exchange rate regime, aligning with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's commitment to unifying the country's exchange rates. In response to this development, Dr. Andrew Nevin, the Advisory Partner & Chief Economist of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), shared his in...

<strong>CBN Must Obey S’court Judgment On Old Naira Notes – Falana</strong>

10Feb

By Mary UgwuanyiNo Comments

Finance, News, Nigeria

CBN Must Obey S’court Judgment On Old Naira Notes – Falana

The Alliance for Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond, ASCAB, comprised of 70 labour and civil society organisations, CSOs, has said that the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, must comply with the ruling of the supreme court on the deadline for the use of old naira notes. Recall that a seven-member panel of the supreme court led by John Okoro, on Wednesday, temporarily stopped the federal government from restricting the use of the old naira notes after February 10. The suit was filed by governors of Kaduna, Kogi, and Zamfara states. Femi Falana, ASCAB’s interim chairman, in a statement on Thursday, alleged that there are speculations that the CBN has decided against obeying the ex parte order of the apex court. The statement read, “The reason adduced for the contemptuous disregard fo...

<strong>No Going Back On Feb 10 Deadline For Old Naira Notes – CBN</strong>

4Feb

By Mary UgwuanyiNo Comments

Finance, News, Nigeria

No Going Back On Feb 10 Deadline For Old Naira Notes – CBN

The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has insisted that the deadline for the use of old naira notes will not be extended. The CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, while speaking during a briefing on Friday at the apex bank’s Lagos office, said the CBN, and deposit money banks, DMBs, were making effort to resolve the current challenges with the circulation of the new currency notes. The apex bank recently extended the deadline for the use of the old naira notes from January 31 to February 10. However, while hoping for another extension, many Nigerians have continued to critise the currency redesign policy on grounds that it is subjecting many Nigerians to hardship due to the scarcity of the new notes. Reacting to the development, Emefiele said after the 10-day extension, the bank doe...

<strong>DSS Nabs Sellers of New Naira Notes</strong>

30Jan

By Mary UgwuanyiNo Comments

Crime, Economy, Finance, News, Nigeria

DSS Nabs Sellers of New Naira Notes

The Department of State Services, DSS, has nabbed some members of coordinated syndicates that sell the newly redesigned naira notes. The DSS public relations officer, Peter Afunanya, in a statement on Monday said that the syndicates connived with some commercial bank officials and were arrested during operations across the country. The statement read, “The Department of State Services (DSS) hereby informs the public that it has intercepted some members of organised syndicates involved in the sale of the newly redesigned naira notes. “In the course of its operations, in this regard in parts of the country, it was also established that some Commercial Bank officials are aiding the economic malfeasance. See Also: INEC Announces Extension Of PVC Collection Deadline “Consequ...

<strong>CBN Reviews Cash Withdrawal Limit After Criticism</strong>

22Dec

By Mary UgwuanyiNo Comments

Economy, Finance, News, Nigeria

CBN Reviews Cash Withdrawal Limit After Criticism

The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has reviewed the maximum weekly cash withdrawal limit across all channels by individuals and corporate oganisations to N500,000 and N5 million, respectively. This is contained in a statement issued by the bank’s Director of banking supervision department, Haruna Mustafa, on Wednesday. This comes two weeks after the apex bank reduced the weekly over-the-counter cash withdrawal limit for individuals to N100,000 and that of corporate organisations to N500,000. Recall that the CBN also reduced withdrawals at automated teller machines, ATMs, and point-of-sale terminals to N20,000 per day. The policy elicited criticism from Nigerians from different walks of life. While some believe it portends negative impact on small businesses, others praise i...

<strong>Court Stops DSS From Arresting CBN Governor</strong>

20Dec

By Mary UgwuanyiNo Comments

Economy, Finance, Judiciary, News, Nigeria, Security

Court Stops DSS From Arresting CBN Governor

An Abuja federal high court has turned down an application by the Department of State Services, DSS, seeking to arrest and detain the Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele. The chief judge, Justice JT Tsoho, while declining the motion ex parte – filed in the absence of the respondent, said that the secret police lacked concrete evidence to prove its claims that Emefiele was involved in terrorism financing and economic crimes. According to a source who spoke to TheCable, the judge noted that he should have been taken into confidence if there was any evidence to substantiate the allegations in the application. “The honourable judge also wondered why the name of the respondent was given simply as ‘Godwin Emefiele’ without a material disclosure that he is the same per...

<strong>Naira Redesign To Affect SMEs, Poor Households – W’Bank</strong>

20Dec

By Mary UgwuanyiNo Comments

Economy, Finance, News, Nigeria

Naira Redesign To Affect SMEs, Poor Households – W’Bank

The World Bank has cautioned that the newly redesigned naira notes may have a negative impact on economic activity in the country, especially on poor Nigerians and small-scale businesses. The global bank disclosed this in a new report titled, “Nigeria Development Update.” It followed the mixed emotions that have heralded the newly redesigned notes which went into circulation last week. The Washington-based bank warned that the timing and short transition period for the new notes may not help Nigeria achieve the desired result. Recall that the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, last month unveiled new M200, N500, and N1000 notes as part of a policy to mop up excess cash in circulation, ransom payment for kidnapping, terrorism financing, counterfeiting, among others. The apex ...

<strong>CBN Sets Countdown Clock On Its Website To Mark Circulation Of New Notes</strong>

21Nov

By Mary UgwuanyiNo Comments

Economy, Finance, News, Nigeria

CBN Sets Countdown Clock On Its Website To Mark Circulation Of New Notes

The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has updated a ticking clock on its website displaying the deadline for the redesigned naira notes. Recall that the apex bank had announced plans to resign N200, N500 and N1000 notes. Justifying the action, CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, had said that the action was informed by persisting concerns with the management of the current series of banknotes and currency in circulation, - especially those outside the banking system. See Also: How Naira Redesign May Crash Dollar To N200 – EFCC Boss Emefiele explained that one of the challenges faced include significant hoarding of banknotes by members of the public, with data suggesting that more than 80 percent of the currency in circulation is outside the vaults of commercial banks. How...

CBN’s Naira Redesign Political – Obaseki

3Nov

By Mary UgwuanyiNo Comments

Finance, News, Nigeria

CBN’s Naira Redesign Political – Obaseki

Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has dismissed the proposed plot by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to redesign naira notes as political. Obaseki described the move as a plan by the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, to woo voters ahead of the 2023 general elections in Nigeria. This was contained in a statement issued by Crusoe Osagie, the governor’s media aide, while commissioning the Edo State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Women Campaign Council at the Presidential Campaign Secretariat in Benin City. Obaseki lampooned the Federal Government for the plan, noting that the redesign of the naira should not be the focus at this point as Nigerians are suffering from hunger, poverty, and economic hardship. See Also: FG Set To Create 21 Million Jobs By 2025 He said...

Strategic Capital Investment Limited Buys Polaris Bank For N50 Billion

21Oct

By Mary UgwuanyiNo Comments

Finance, News, Nigeria

Strategic Capital Investment Limited Buys Polaris Bank For N50 Billion

The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, and the Asset Management Company of Nigeria, AMCON, have announced the sale of Polaris Bank to Strategic Capital Investment Limited, SCIL. SCIL acquired 100 percent of the equity in the bank. CBN The House of Representatives ratified the acquisition on Wednesday, stating that the purchase was in accordance with stipulated procedure and the needed presidential approval. Osita Nwanisobi, the Director of Corporate Communications Department at the CBN, in a statement issued on behalf of the apex bank and AMCON stated that “SCIL had paid an upfront consideration of N50 billion to acquire 100 percent of the equity of Polaris Bank and had also accepted the terms of the agreement which includes the full repayment of the sum of N1.305 trillion, ...