Emmanuel OchayiIn a turn of events, the Nigerian naira faced a downward spiral against the US dollar, hitting an intraday high of N1130/$1 at the official market, signaling a concerning trend for the local currency.
Despite this decline, the naira closed on par at the parallel market, maintaining its exchange rate at N1240/$1.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) previously took action to address the foreign exchange backlog, making tranche payments to 31 banks.
Governor Yemi Cardoso, speaking at a bankers’ dinner in Lagos, highlighted the positive response from the market to these payments, stressing the importance of verifying transactions to ensure the legitimacy of payments.
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Cardoso expressed optimism about the potential for improved FX market liquidity, envisioning daily trade potentially exceeding $1.0 billion with disciplined and focused commitment. He also outlined plans to rebuild foreign exchange reserves, aiming for levels comparable to other economies.
The naira’s value decline has been a consistent concern, attributed to foreign exchange illiquidity and the struggle to clear the forex backlog. Despite a recent gain against the dollar in the official market, the subsequent fall in value raises pressing concerns about Nigeria’s currency stability and economic prospects.
Cardoso’s remarks shed light on the CBN’s proactive measures to stabilize the FX market and rebuild reserves. However, the challenge remains daunting as Nigeria navigates through its foreign exchange woes amidst the fluctuating value of the naira.
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