The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has exposed individuals and corporations responsible for devaluation of the Naira

The CBN implements travel restrictions on bank executives amid allegations of foreign exchange misconduct, contributing to the naira crash.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has recently implemented travel restrictions on prominent bank executives and top officials within the country, thereby preventing them from leaving between August 5 and August 15, 2023.

This decision was made following allegations of foreign exchange misconduct.

Foreign Exchange Misconduct by Bank Officials

Sources reveal that bank CEOs and managing directors are suspected of engaging in unauthorized trading of foreign exchange, which subsequently exacerbated the scarcity of forex and resulted in a significant increase in the US dollar’s value compared to the Nigerian naira.

It was discovered that these officials allocated substantial amounts of foreign exchange to their families, associates, and close contacts.

Aftermath of Unifying Exchange Rates

The situation arose after a decision to unify exchange rates, causing bank leaders to sell foreign currency at inflated prices.

This reportedly benefited the CEOs significantly, allowing them to manipulate and profit from the exchange rates freely.

Such practices of directing forex to personal connections are believed to have contributed to customer difficulties in accessing cash and foreign exchange, adding to the delays experienced.

A Call to Fulfill National Responsibilities

The travel ban on these individuals is not a punishment but a reminder of their national duties.

Previously, the CBN gave weekly foreign exchange to banks for legitimate needs, urging honest transactions and less paperwork of foreign exchange from banks.

Banks were granted 48 hours to settle customer forex requests and were instructed to establish dedicated branches across the nation for forex-related services.

Extending Processing Duration

Despite the guidelines, banks delayed the forex processing time for international school fees, extending the wait from 48 hours to 120 days—violating the rules. the CBN’s foreign exchange policy.

Stabilizing Depreciation of the Local Currency

The travel restrictions seem to have halted the decline of the local currency against foreign ones.

Remarkably, the Nigerian naira has risen against the US dollar in both official and parallel markets.

On August 21, 2023, the naira was N739 per dollar at the official Investors and Exporters (I&E) window and N860 at the parallel market.

NNPC’s Loan from AfreximBan

These events happened during the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation’s (NNPC) $3 billion loan from AfreximBank to address the foreign exchange crisis, alongside the CBN’s actions.

commitment to intervening to counteract speculative activities.

CBN Spokesperson Unaware of Restrictions

However, when asked for a comment, CBN spokesperson Isa AbdulMumin claimed no knowledge of the travel restrictions, hinting at possible internal communication problems.

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