CBN resumes sales of dollars for SMEs, school fees

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Wednesday resumed provision of foreign exchange to all commercial banks for onward sales.

Director of Corporate Communications of the Apex bank, Mr. Isaac Okoroafor made this known in Abuja, saying that parents wishing to pay school fees and Small and Medium Enterprises can have access to foreign exchange.

He explained that the development was due to the gradual easing of the COVID-19 lockdown in the country and across the globe.

He said this step would also help owners of SMEs to make essential imports needed to revamp economic activities across the country.

“In particular, the CBN is resuming the provision of over 100 million dollars per week for both categories.

“The bank 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.

“In view of 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 or institutions involved in such nefarious activities” Okoroafor said.