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CBN to Sanction Banks Hoarding Dollars

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Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), is about to probe and sanction Deposit Money Banks (DMBs), that are currently sabotaging government’s effort to halt the free fall of the naira in a bid to strengthen the national currency, it has been learnt .

CBN to Sanction Banks Hoarding Dollars

The Nation reported that some banks are speculating, purchasing from the Investors & Export window and selling for profit in parallel market, it was also gathered.

A Bureau De Change (BDC), operator who craved anonymity , confirmed that banks are hoarding dollar in other to make huge profit.

He stated that hoarding was partly responsible for the unification of exchange markets not delivering successes as envisaged by the Federal Government.

“Some banks are speculating, purchasing from I&E selling for profit in parallel market. So, artificial demands are driving up forex rates and that is working against the efforts of CBN to stem the slide of the Naira,” the operator said.

However, a CBN source also said that speculators are keeping piles of dollars with plans to trade for massive profits in future deals.

The source, however, disclosed that the CBN plan to address the issues of speculation comprehensively through heavy sanctions on defaulting banks and BDC operators.

“Government through the CBN, plans to probe bank hoarding and roundtripping with heavy sanctions awaiting defaulters. This is because the apex bank believed hoarders – banks and black parallel operators- are responsible for the artificial scarcity that is driving up forex rates. Government plans through the CBN, is to address the issues of speculation comprehensively and through heavy sanctions.

“The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had greenlighted the unification but insisted that more efforts are required for the full dividends to be delivered.

“That was why CBN ordered recently that banks shouldn’t use the gains from revaluation to pay dividends or meet operational expenses. Heavy sanctions may force defaulting banks to release forex,” the source said.

However, it was gathered that in the coming days, the naira will start appreciating against the dollar due to the removal of forex restrictions on 43 items by the CBN. Removing the restrictions, economists have said, would eliminate the need for importers of the banned products to go to the parallel market, reducing the pressure on the naira. “The hitherto FX restrictions had implications on inflation, causing the prices of affected goods to increase,” an analyst, Chukwudi Ikerefon, said .

Meanwhile, the Association of Bureau de Change Operators (ABCON) has directed its members across the country to stop buying dollars for more than N900 from Nigerians at the black market.

The move ABCON said would sanitise the parallel market and help the naira rebound from N1,200 to around N900 or N950 in the days ahead.

Abdullahi Yusuf, chief executive officer of AYA Modo Nigeria Limited, confirmed the plans to peg the dollar to naira exchange rate below N1,000 at the black market .

Aminu Gwadabe, president of ABCON, however, failed to confirm the directive, noting that ABCON as an association would comply with the CBN allowable limit of -2.5 per cent to +2.5 per cent of the Nigerian Foreign Exchange market window weighted average rate of the previous day.

“As usual, we believe that making the Naira stable requires the CBN to make our sector commercially viable by opening up other sources for our members to ensure business continuity.

ABCON and its members are Nigerians and will embrace any CBN policy aimed at ensuring naira stability and including BDCs as a third pillar for moderating and regulating the parallel market.”

“The CBN has issued us directives that we should only transact our business at their referenced anchor rates and advise our members to do the necessary,” he added.

 

 

 


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E-Financial

Flutterwave Gets Ghana Approval to Offer Inward Remittances

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Flutterwave, an African payments technology company, said yesterday it has received approval from Ghana’s Central Bank to provide inward remittance services.

This development, according to the business, reinforces Flutterwave’s aim to simplify payments across Africa. In announcing the development, Flutterwave stated that Ghana’s financial sector is fast growing, with high mobile phone penetration and a vibrant mobile money ecosystem.

Remarkably, it continued, 60% of foreign exchange is received through mobile money platforms, demonstrating the critical role they play in the financial lives of Ghanaians.

Beyond mobile money, areas such as insurtech, lend-tech, and buy now, pay later are expanding rapidly, creating a vibrant and diverse fintech environment, according to the business.

Furthermore, Flutterwave stated that the Bank of Ghana’s supportive regulatory framework and the Ghana Digital Agenda have created an attractive market for fintech innovation.

According to Flutterwave, the latest approval is consistent with these trends, guaranteeing that Ghanaians can benefit from rapid, secure, and cost-effective remittance services.

Olugbenga Agboola, founder and CEO of Flutterwave, commented on the milestone: “Remittances play a vital role in the Ghanaian economy, and our goal is to make the process as seamless as possible for Ghanaians in the diaspora looking to send money home.”

Oluwabankole Falade, chief regulatory and government affairs officer at Flutterwave, added: “We are grateful to the Bank of Ghana for their support and look forward to expanding our services in the country.”


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EFCC Uncovers 58 Ponzi Schemes Targeting to Defraud Nigerians

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Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has issued a public alert on 58 companies allegedly running illegal Ponzi schemes in Nigeria, warning citizens against investing in them.

EFCC Uncovers 58 Ponzi Schemes Targeting to Defraud Nigerians

In a statement on Tuesday, Dele Oyewale, spokesperson of the anti-graft agency, said the 58 Ponzi operators falsely pose as investment firms, defrauding unsuspecting Nigerians of their money.

Oyewale noted that none of the companies are registered with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) or the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

“The two regulators, in separate correspondences with the EFCC, denied that they are registered with them,” the statement reads.

“The commission has charged many of the companies to court, with five of them convicted, another five pleaded guilty but awaiting review of facts while the rest are pending arraignment.”

The companies listed include Wales Kingdom Capital, Bethseida Group of Companies, AQM Capital Limited, Titan Multibusiness Investment Limited, Brickwall Global Investment Limited, Farmforte Limited & Agro Partnership Tech, Green Eagles Agricbusiness Solution Limited, Richfield Multiconcepts Limited, Forte Asset Management Limited, (Biss Networks Nigeria Limited, S Mobile Netzone Limited, Pristine Mobile Network), Letsfarm Integrated Services, Bara Finance & Investment Limited, Vicampro Farms Limited, Brooks Network Limited, Gas Station Supply Services Limited, Brass & Books Limited, (Annexation Biz Concept & Maitanbuwal Global Venturescrowdyvest Limited,) and Crowdyvest Limited.

Others are Jadek Agro Connect Limited, Adeeva Capital Limited, Oxford International  Group and Oxford Gold Integrated,  Skapomah Global Limited, MBA Trading & Capital Investment Limited, TRJ Company Limited, Farm4Me Agriculture Limited, Quintessential Investment Company, Adeprinz Global Enterprises, Rockstar Establishment Limited, SU.Global Investment, Citi Trust Funding PLC, Farm Buddy, Eatrich 369 Farms & Food, Globertrot Farmsponsors Nigeria Limited, Farm Sponsors Limited, Cititrust Credit Limited, Farmfunded Agroservices Limited, Adamakin Investment & Works Limited.

The rest include  Cititrust Holding PLC, Green Eagles Agribusiness Solutions Limited,  Chinmark Homes & Shelters Limited, Emerald Farms & Consultant Limited, Ovaioza Farm Produce Storage Limited, Farm 360 & Agriculture Company, Requid Technologies Limited, West Agro Agriculture & Food Processing Limited, NISL Ventures Limited & Estate of Laolu Martins, XY Connect Investment Limited, River Branch Unique Investment Limited, Hallmark Capital Limited, CJC Markets Limited, Crowd One Investment, Farmkart Foods Limited, KD Likemind Stakeholders Limited, Holibiz Finance Limited, Ifeanyi Okpe Oil & Gas Services, Servapps Nigeria Limited, Barrick Gold Mining Company and 360 Agric Partners Limited.

The commission reaffirmed its commitment to monitoring fraudulent investment schemes and protecting Nigerians from financial exploitation.


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Reps Ask CBN to Suspend ATM Charges Hike   

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House of Representatives has passed a resolution calling for the suspension of the increase in Automated Teller Machine (ATM) transaction charges and the stoppage of free ATM withdrawals for customers from other banks in Nigeria.

Reps Ask CBN to Suspend ATM Charges Hike    

This followed a motion of urgent public importance by Marcus Onobun.

Onobun, drew the attention of the House to a circular by the Central Bank of Nigeria  (CBN) to that effect.

Lawmakers were worried that this would impose additional financial burdens on Nigerians.

The House asked the CBN to suspend the policy pending proper engagement with the relevant committees on banking, finance, and financial institutions.


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