The Central Bank of Nigeria has announced plans to sell forex to bureau de change operators at N1,301 per dollar.

The decision, which aimed to enable the sale of foreign exchange to BDC operators to meet the retail demand for eligible invisible transactions, was contained in a statement signed by Hassan Mahmud, a director at the Trade and Exchange Department. 

The statement explained that CBN made the decision after observing the continued price distortions at the retail end of the market, which, according to them, is feeding into the parallel market and further widening the exchange rate premium.

“Following the ongoing reforms in the foreign exchange market, aimed at achieving an appropriate market-determined exchange rate for the naira, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has observed the continued price distortions at the retail end of the market, which is feeding into the parallel market and further widening the exchange rate premium.”

“To this end, the CB 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/$1 – (representing the lower band rate of executed spot transactions at NAFEM for the previous trading day, as of today, 27th February 2024),” said the CBN statement.

It added that all BDCs should sell to end-users at a margin not more than one per cent above the purchase rate from CBN.

“All eligible BDCs are directed to make the naira payment to the designated CBN foreign currency deposit naira accounts and submit confirmation of payment, with other necessary documentations, for disbursement at the appropriate CBN branches – Abuja, Awka, Lagos and Kano,” the apex bank stated.