Naira Appreciates To N1,382/dollar, Presidency Cautions Speculators To Desist From Unpatriotic Act  | Nigeria Updates- Breaking News, Nigerian News, Politics, Sports, Entertainment and Business - Nigeriaupdates.com Nigeria Updates
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Naira Appreciates To N1,382/dollar, Presidency Cautions Speculators To Desist From Unpatriotic Act 

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The Nigerian currency has maintained a steady appreciation against the United States dollar on Thursday, gaining N18 to close 1,382/$ at the official market, the Punch reports.

 

This came as Presidency warned currency speculators to desist from unpatriotic act against the national currency, saying racketeers would have their fingers burnt.

 

The naira gain came a day after the local currency recorded major gains at both the official and parallel foreign exchange markets. It closed at the black market at N1,400/dollar on Wednesday.

 

The summary of the FX trading auction revealed that naira appreciated by 1.3 percent following increased dollar supply at the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market, according to data from the FMDQ Securities Exchange Limited.

 

The intraday high closed at N1,598 per dollar on Thursday, stronger than N1,620 it closed at on Wednesday. Also, the intraday low strengthened to N1,300/$ on the same day, stronger than N1,350/$1 closed at on the previous day.

 

The dollar supplied by FX market players increased to $288.47, an increase of $2 or 7.46 percent from $268.29 million recorded on Wednesday from $195.13 million at NAFEM.

 

In the recent weeks, the naira has gained N500 against the dollar from it record low this year at the unofficial market, as the CBN builds confidence in FX market.

 

The Central Bank of Nigeria declared on Wednesday that it has successfully resolved all valid foreign exchange backlogs, as pledged by Governor Olayemi Cardoso, addressing inherited claims amounting to $7bn.

 

Hakama Sidi Ali, CBN’s acting director of corporate communications, conveyed this information in a statement sent via mail. She stated that the CBN finalised the payment of $1.5 billion to settle obligations to bank customers, thereby clearing the remaining balance of the FX backlog.

 

Cardoso emphasised the priority of clearing the FX backlog to enhance credibility and confidence in the Nigerian economy.

 

The strain on the naira/dollar exchange rate is gradually diminishing, with Nigeria’s external reserves showing sustained growth over the past month.

 

According to data from the CBN, foreign currency reserves rose by 3.62 percent to $34.37 billion as of March 12, 2024, compared to $33.17 billion recorded at the beginning of February 2024.

 

Additionally, the CBN reported a significant surge in Diaspora remittances, which skyrocketed by 433 percent to $1.3 billion in February, compared to $300 million in January

 

Meanwhile, the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has cautioned currency traders speculating on foreign exchange to sell their dollar holdings, stating that the naira is expected to increase in value soon.

 

He advised speculators to sell off their dollars to prevent potential losses swiftly.

 

Onanuga said, “With backlog FX settled, Naira is set to appreciate further, faster. Currency speculators should quickly dump their stock of dollars to avoid sorrows and tears.

 

On Wednesday, the naira closed trading at 1,410/dollar at the parallel market and N1,492 at the official Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market, according to data compiled from the FMDQ Securities Exchange.

 

The gain recorded by the naira at the official market represents an appreciation of N68 or 4.5 per cent, from the N1,560/$1 recorded on Tuesday at NAFEM, and a gain of 13.5 per cent or N190 at the parallel market.

 

The naira has been gaining lately as speculators begin to dump their dollar stocks, following waning demand by prospective buyers amid CBN clampdowns.

 

A string of circulars by the Central Bank of Nigeria in recent weeks and months have helped to plug leakages and blocked loopholes previously explored by currency speculators and racketeers.

 

Also, the recent clampdowns on the activities of illegal BDC operators in Lagos, Abuja and Kano by the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have helped to reduce the volatility of the naira.

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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