Naira Crisis: CBN Allocates Dollar To BDCs At N1,301/$

After an almost three-year suspension from the official forex window, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) resumed the daily sale of $20,000 forex to Bureaux de Change (BDCs) yesterday.

Up to 785 BDCs are eligible for the transactions and will access $20,000 each, bringing the daily sales to $15.7 million.

The policy shift, announced by the Director of Trade & Exchange Department, Dr. Hassan Mahmud, is expected to curb persisting distortions in the retail segment of Nigeria’s foreign exchange market by deepening dollar liquidity.

Eligible BDCs are mandated to deposit their Naira payments into designated CBN Foreign Currency Deposit Naira Accounts.

They must also confirm payment along with other documentation to facilitate disbursement at the appropriate CBN branches located in Abuja, Awka, Lagos, and Kano.

The number of eligible BDCs dropped from over 4,500 to the current number following the apex bank audit of members, assessment of operational digitisation and rendition of returns.

This initiative is part of the broader efforts to achieve a market-driven exchange rate for the Naira and alleviate the pressures feeding into the parallel market.

This allocation will be sold at a rate of N1,301/$, reflecting the lower band rate of executed spot transactions at the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEM) as of the previous trading day, dated February 27, 2024.

This strategy is anticipated to inject much-needed liquidity into the market and stabilise the Naira’s value.

The circular stipulates that all BDCs are permitted to sell foreign exchange to end-users at a margin not exceeding one per cent above their purchase rate from the CBN.

This measure is intended to prevent excessive mark-ups and protect consumers from price exploitation.

The circular reads: “The CBN has approved the sale of foreign exchange to eligible Bureau De Change (BDCs) to meet the demand for invisible transactions.

“The sum of $20,000 is to be sold to each BDC at the rate of N1,301/$- (representing the lower band rate of executed spot transactions at NAFEM for the previous trading day, as at today, 27th February 2024).”

Adeleye: businesses adapting

Chief Strategy Officer of Retail Supermarkets Nigeria Limited, Bunmi Adeleye, said naira fluctuations have prompted businesses to adapt.

Adeleye said like any retail business operating in a continually evolving economic landscape, Retail Supermarkets Nigeria is faced with various challenges, including naira depreciation.

“While the increased costs of importing goods and supply chain disruptions pose challenges, the depreciation of the naira has also created opportunities for growth and localisation.

“Despite efforts to remain competitive, we have adjusted prices to reflect the increased costs, potentially affecting customer purchasing power,” she said.

Adeleye explained that the company has faced various challenges such as increased costs of importing goods, supply chain disruptions, and product availability due to naira depreciation.

The company, she said, has implemented robust procurement strategies, strengthened local supplier relationships, and focused on sourcing products locally to mitigate challenges and support the economy.