CBN resumes dollar sale for SMEs, school fees

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has resumed the sale of foreign exchange to all commercial banks for onward sales to parents to pay schools fees and operators of small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) wishing to make essential imports needed to revamp economic activities across the country.

The apex bank disclosed this in a statement signed by its Director, Corporate Communications, Isaac Okorafor.

According to CBN, the decision was arrived at, in view of the gradual easing of the COVID-19 lockdown both globally and in Nigeria the country.

“In particular, the CBN is resuming the provision of over US$100 million per week for both categories. The CBN has also made complete arrangements to resume foreign exchange sales to the Bureau De Change segment of the market for business travels, personal travels, and other designated retail uses, as soon as international flights resume.

“With these actions, the CBN wishes to reiterate that it is adequately meeting the needs of all legitimate users, and our continued capacity to do so should not be in doubt. There is therefore no need for panic by any end-user that could necessitate recourse to illegitimate sources and spike in foreign exchange rates.

“Given this, the Bank has ramped up its surveillance of the foreign exchange markets for speculators, smugglers and other illegal users, and will take decisive actions against anyone/institutions involved in such nefarious activities,” the bank explained.