CBN to inject more dollars into forex market

The Central Bank of Nigeria will this week inject more dollars into the foreign exchange market as part of efforts to improve the level of liquidity in the interbank market.
The Acting Director, Corporate Communications Department, CBN, Mr. Isaac Okorafor, confirmed the plan to release more dollars into the forex market.
Okorafor, in a statement on Sunday, said the CBN would continue inject more funds into the market to strengthen the price of the naira against the dollar.
He said the apex bank was determined to sustain the provision of liquidity in the forex market in order to enhance accessibility and affordability for genuine end users.
He also cautioned forex dealers not to engage in any unwholesome practice that would be detrimental to smooth operations in the market, warning that the CBN would impose heavy sanctions on any organisation or official involved in such act.
Based on the forex intervention by the CBN, about $1.35 billion had been released into the interbank forex market within the last three weeks.
During the first intervention in the foreign exchange market three weeks ago, the CBN had offered $500 million for sale to banks.
At the second intervention, a total of $221.3 million was made available to 16 banks for forward sales to end users of forex.
During the third intervention two weeks ago, the apex bank released about $367.13 million into the foreign exchange market to ensure more liquidity in the market.
At the fourth intervention last Tuesday, the sum of $100m was released before last Thursday’s offering of $170m into the forex market.