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BDC Operations Resume After Raids

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After a week of sustained raids, the operations of Bureau De Change (BDCs) will resume nationwide today (Tuesday), it has been learnt.

 

Many BDCs had suspended operation last week after the raid by the security agencies comprising the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the police, among others.

 

The National Security Adviser (NSA), Mal. Nuhu Ribadu, had set up a task force to end issues of currency speculation.

 

Ribadu spoke through Zakari Mijinyawa, the head of strategic communications in the Office of the National Security Adviser, saying the office had to wade in at this point because some individuals and organisations had continued to undermine proactive measures of the CBN to stabilise the foreign exchange market and stimulate economic activities.

 

This was why the security agencies raided Bureau de Change hubs in Lagos, Kano and Abuja, the nation’s capital, during which many BDC operators were arrested.

 

According to Daily trust reports that the development had sent away many street BDC operators on Allen Avenue, Sabo Yaba, Eko Hotel and many hubs in Lagos as was observed yesterday.

 

But following the raids, the leadership of the Association of Bureau De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON), the body of registered and licensed BDC operators, had an interface with the authorities to further streamline the activities of the BDCs and work out modalities to reduce activities of the licensed operators plying their trade on the streets of Lagos, Abuja, Kano and other parts of Nigeria.

 

Also at the weekend, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) issued a draft guideline to further sanitise the BDC space, an important retail segment of the foreign exchange market.

 

The ABCON President, Aminu Gwadabe, in a chat with our correspondent, however, confirmed that BDC operations would resume today with improved monitoring by the CBN, even as he stated that operators would initiate reforms on their own in line with the new guidelines.

 

“The good news is that we have just finished discussions to ensure that the BDCs are back into business. By Tuesday, BDCs would return to the windows, through strategic partners, with CBN monitoring. Every BDC would now at least start doing something…”

 

New draft regulations will require amongst others that sellers of $10,000 and above to BDCs will have to declare the source of the foreign currency.

 

Also, for payments to customers for cash purchases of foreign currency, the equivalent of above USD500, shall be by transfer to the customer’s naira bank account.

 

If the customer is non-resident (whether Nigerian or not), a BDC shall issue the customer a prepaid NGN card.

 

Meanwhile, the dollar exchanged for N1,690 on Monday at the parallel market on the first working day of the week amidst the proposed reforms in the BDC operations.

 

This was an appreciable rate compared to N1,900 it exchanged last week at the unofficial parallel market.

 

A bureau de change operator, Abu Dollar, told our correspondent that the rate is likely to go down this week, hinging the projection on the steps taken against speculative activities in the BDC space.

 

Also yesterday, the Nigeria Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEM)’s official rate which closed at N1,665 on Friday last week, opened the week on a positive note by closing at N1,582.94.

Business

GTCO Food And Drinks 7th Edition Begins Today 

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GTCO Food And Drinks, the premier event in the food and beverage industry, officially commenced its 7th edition today. The event is set to showcase the latest trends, innovations, and products in the food and drinks sector.

With over 100 exhibitors from around the globe, GTCO Food And Drinks 7th Edition promises to be bigger and better than ever before. Attendees can look forward to tasting new flavors, experiencing cutting-edge technologies, and learning from industry experts through various workshops and seminars.

The 7th edition of GTCO Food And Drinks event promises to be a groundbreaking experience for all food and beverage enthusiasts, offering them the opportunity to discover the latest trends and innovations in the industry.” And master class section will also be taking place.

GTCO Food And Drinks 7th Edition will run from 2pm Friday 26th Of April and Ends on Sunday 28th at GTCenter Plot 1 Water Corporation Drive, Oniru, Victoria Island, Lagos.

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Alleged Unremitted Funds: Reps Tells SEC and FRC to Settle Differences 

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The House of Representative Public Accounts Committee has given an opportunity to the Securities and Exchange Commission and Fiscal Responsibility Commission to amicably settle the differences on the alleged non-remittance of over N45 billion to the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

Bamidele Salam, the Chairman of the Committee, gave the directive on Monday in Abuja during the Committee’s public hearing on leakages of government revenue.

The FRC had alleged the SEC did not respond to its report issued in 2022 where N45b unremiited operating surplus was recorded against the Commission from 2007 to 2021.

The Director General of SEC, Lamido Yuguda, while reacting to the allegation said the Commission had reconciled its operating surplus with the office of the Accountant General of the Federation.

“I think if the FRC had actually done a little more work, they would have seen from the OAGF all the efforts that we have made to reconcile the surplus figures from 2007 when FRSC came into being, “ the Director General told the Committee.

The SEC Team had evidences of the remittances it had made in the past as proof to back its argument of not being culpable of the allegation and it is ready to provide every document that was required of it by the Committee. The SEC report revealed.

According to the report, a review of the documents submitted by the SEC to the Committee reveals that they have actually made all submissions and payments and this was corroborated by the representative of the Office of the Account General of the Federation who also informed the Committee of the regular reconciliation exercise between it and SEC.

“Fact reveals that the Lamido led Management has transformed the account of the Commission from deficit balance recorded over the years to operating a surplus as a result of the transformations and policies introduced into the capital market”, the report stated.

After much defence from both parties, the Committee unanimously told the SEC and FRC to go and reconcile the differences then revert back to the Committee after 21 days for a final resolution on the issue.

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Dangote Reduces Price Of Diesel

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Dangote Petroleum Refinery has further slashed diesel prices, from N1,200 to N1,000 per litre, aiming to mitigate the escalating inflation rates in Nigeria.

This reduction follows a previous price cut three weeks ago when the refinery initially decreased its diesel price by over 30%, down from N1,600 to N1,200 per litre.

The refinery has described this decision as a strategic move expected to “this significant reduction in the price of diesel, at Dangote Petroleum Refinery, is expected to positively affect all the spheres of the economy and ultimately reduce the high inflation rate in the country.”

During an interview with newsmen, the Executive Director of the Dangote Group, Devakumar Edwin, emphasized the refinery’s robust output capabilities.

“We have substantial quantities. Products are being evacuated both by sea and road. Ships are lining up one after another to load diesel and aviation jet fuel. Ships load a minimum of 26 million litres, though we try to push for 37 million litres vessels, for ease of operations,” Edwin stated.

The announcement comes days after an APC chieftain in Osun State, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, called on President Bola Tinubu to address what he termed excessively high diesel prices at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.

In a press conference in Osogbo, Oyintiloye argued that, “as a domestically produced commodity, diesel prices should be significantly lower than those of imported counterparts.”

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