• Login
NORVANREPORTS.COM |  Business News, Insurance, Taxation, Oil & Gas, Maritime News, Ghana, Africa, World
  • Home
  • News
    • General
    • Political
  • Economy
  • Business
    • Agribusiness
    • Aviation
    • Banking & Finance
    • Energy
    • Insurance
    • Manufacturing
    • Markets
    • Maritime
    • Real Estate
    • Tourism
    • Transport
  • Technology
    • Telecom
    • Cyber-security
    • Cryptocurrency
    • Tech-guide
    • Social Media
  • Features
    • Interviews
    • Opinions
  • Reports
    • Banking/Finance
    • Insurance
    • Budgets
    • GDP
    • Inflation
    • Central Bank
    • Sec/Gse
  • Lifestyle
    • Sports
    • Entertainment
    • Travel
    • Environment
    • Weather
  • NRTV
    • Audio
    • Video
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
NORVANREPORTS.COM |  Business News, Insurance, Taxation, Oil & Gas, Maritime News, Ghana, Africa, World
No Result
View All Result
Home Business

Understanding Nigeria’s Currency Slump, and What Happens Next

11 months ago
in Business, Economy, Features, highlights, Home, home-news, latest News, Markets
2 min read
0 0
0
86
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Linkedin

Understanding Nigeria’s Currency Slump, and What Happens Next

With its oil wealth, Nigeria should be awash with foreign currency. But years of economic mismanagement have left the country with a debilitating shortage of dollars. In an attempt to fix the problem, President Bola Tinubu relaxed longstanding foreign exchange restrictions shortly after taking office in May 2023. The local naira currency, pegged for years at an artificially high level against the dollar, has since lost 70% about of its value. Tinubu’s goal was to trigger an influx of foreign capital and eventually make Nigeria a more attractive investment destination. The near-term impact was a surge in inflation to a 28-year high, causing a cost-of-living crisis and sparking deadly protests in Africa’s most populous nation.

What’s gone wrong with Nigeria’s economy?

Despite Nigeria being Africa’s largest oil producer, the economy has stagnated for years, its resource riches plundered by a politically connected elite. Corruption is endemic, many state institutions are dysfunctional and armed bandits and Islamist militants roam the country’s north. About 40% of Nigeria’s more than 200 million people live in dire poverty, according to the World Bank, and the higher living costs have added to their ranks. Dollar shortages persist, and businesses also face constant policy uncertainty and power cuts. The government used 68% of the revenue it collected in the first half of 2024 to service debt, an improvement on past years but still not leaving much for anything else. Under previous management, the central bank played a highly unorthodox role, providing loans to small businesses and introducing multiple exchange rates. The system was supposed to boost dollar availability to key parts of the economy, but had the opposite effect, fanning a thriving unofficial currency market that made the naira even more volatile by encouraging speculation.

What’s being done to turn things around?

Within days of taking office, Tinubu partially scrapped popular fuel subsidies that cost the government $10 billion in 2022 alone, and suspended the head of the central bank. The bank’s new leadership allowed the naira to trade more freely, while aggressively raising interest rates. Governor Olayemi Cardoso has increased the benchmark rate by 800 basis points to 26.75% since he took office in September 2023. He’s also worked hard to pay down an overhang of outstanding agreements between the central bank and Nigerian companies to sell them dollars, which has weighed on the naira. In addition, the government is discussing selling oil in naira to billionaire Aliko Dangote, who has built a massive refinery near Lagos with the goal of ending the nation’s crippling reliance on imported refined petroleum. Using the refinery to end this dependence could significantly ease pressure on the local currency.

Is it working? 

RelatedPosts

Parliament Adjourns Sine Die After Intense Legislative Session Marked by Reform Calls and Tributes

GACL Terminates Evatex Revenue Assurance Contract Amid OSP Probe

Cyber Security Authority Flags Rising Mobile Data Scam, Cautions Public

It’s still a work in progress. The measures were welcomed by the International Monetary Fund and World Bank but have been very painful for ordinary Nigerians. Inflation is close to a three-decade high, largely driven by the naira depreciation and higher gasoline prices. The currency recovered sharply from mid-March until mid-April before falling again to fresh lows. Analysts blame seasonal factors, as rich Nigerians buy dollars to pay for foreign holidays and school fees. For his part, Cardoso says monetary policy is gradually working and the naira is on the mend.

What are foreign investors saying?

There was growing optimism as the naira clawed back from a record low earlier this year that it would find a solid base. But that’s been challenged by the currency’s recent bout of weakness, and investors are keeping their distance while they wait for it to stabilize. Concessional funding from multilateral lenders would improve the dollar supply picture, though there’s been more talk than action on those fronts from Nigerian officials. Government plans for a Eurobond issue were also postponed due to the lack of attractive funding options and it decided to issue a domestic dollar bond instead. That prompted a brief naira rally after the offering was heavily oversubscribed.

How have businesses been affected?

They’ve struggled. More than 700 manufacturing companies shut down in the first quarter of 2023 alone, according to an industry association. Drugmaker GSK Plc, consumer-goods company Procter & Gamble Co. and several other international businesses have exited the country as the currency shortages made it complicated to import goods and repatriate profits. Local business leaders have warned that the higher interest rates could stifle consumer spending and investment.

What’s the prognosis?

Tinubu’s policies, if they survive in the face of popular discontent, should ultimately be good for the economy and lead to stronger and more inclusive growth. The IMF forecasts that output will expand by about 3.1% this year, slightly stronger than 2023. But many Nigerians are struggling to afford even basic necessities, piling pressure on the government to show the policy changes are benefiting the wider population. Desperate crowds have looted food convoys and at least 21 people died during a clampdown by security forces on protests in August that saw demonstrators marching in several cities chanting “we are hungry.”

Tags: and What Happens NextNigeria’s Currency SlumpUnderstanding Nigeria’s Currency Slump

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

I agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

No Result
View All Result

Highlights

Gov’t Reopens Talks With PayPal to Restore Full Service Access in Ghana

Financial Sector Assets up 34.6% in 2024 to GHS 525.59 Billion

Banking Sector Soundness Remains Robust in 2024 Amid Strong Profitability, Adequate Capital Buffers

Sha’Carri Richardson Withdraws from US Trials Following Arrest

From Singuluma to El Kaabi: Can CHAN 2024 Unleash the Next Hat-trick Hero?

Ghana to Welcome King’s Baton Relay on August 8 Ahead of 2026 Commonwealth Games

Trending

Features

Parliament Adjourns Sine Die After Intense Legislative Session Marked by Reform Calls and Tributes

August 2, 2025

Parliament Adjourns Sine Die After Intense Legislative Session Marked by Reform Calls and Tributes Parliament has adjourned...

GACL Terminates Evatex Revenue Assurance Contract Amid OSP Probe

August 2, 2025

Cyber Security Authority Flags Rising Mobile Data Scam, Cautions Public

August 2, 2025

Gov’t Reopens Talks With PayPal to Restore Full Service Access in Ghana

August 2, 2025
Bank of Ghana

Financial Sector Assets up 34.6% in 2024 to GHS 525.59 Billion

August 2, 2025

Who we are?

NORVANREPORTS.COM |  Business News, Insurance, Taxation, Oil & Gas, Maritime News, Ghana, Africa, World

NorvanReports is a unique data, business, and financial portal aimed at providing accurate, impartial reporting of business news on Ghana, Africa, and around the world from a truly independent reporting and analysis point of view.

© 2020 Norvanreports – credible news platform.
L: Hse #4 3rd Okle Link, Baatsonaa – Accra-Ghana T:+233-(0)26 451 1013 E: news@norvanreports.com info@norvanreports.com
All rights reserved we display professionalism at all stages of publications

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Business
    • Agribusiness
    • Aviation
    • Energy
    • Insurance
    • Manufacturing
    • Real Estate
    • Maritime
    • Tourism
    • Transport
    • Banking & Finance
    • Trade
    • Markets
  • Economy
  • Reports
  • Technology
    • Cryptocurrency
    • Cyber-security
    • Social Media
    • Tech-guide
    • Telecom
  • Features
    • Interviews
    • Opinions
  • Lifestyle
    • Entertainment
    • Sports
    • Travel
    • Environment
    • Weather
  • NRTV
    • Audio
    • Video

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Create New Account!

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
NORVANREPORTS.COM | Business News, Insurance, Taxation, Oil & Gas, Maritime News, Ghana, Africa, World
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.