CBN Stops Forex for Fertiliser Importation

• CBN Stops Forex for Fertiliser Importation

The Central Bank of Nigeria has included fertiliser on the list of 41 import items classified as ‘not valid for foreign exchange’ in the Nigerian forex market.

The CBN disclosed this on Monday in a circular on ‘Inclusion of some imported goods and services on the list of items not valid for forex in the Nigerian forex market.’

It added that it would ensure that transaction (Form M) on fertiliser “for which payments are outstanding are settled at the appropriate settlement dates.”

In another circular on ‘Foreign exchange restriction on the importation of 42 items’, the CBN noted that, as part of its development of employment generation and inclusive growth in Nigeria, it on July 2015 restricted the availability of forex to the importation of 41 items, which could be competitively produced within the economy.

“The policy has resulted in massive investments and the establishment of cottage industries that now engage in the production of the restricted items across the country. The growth and employment benefits have been phenomenal,” it said.

The apex bank added that unfortunately, trade information available to it indicated the circumvention of the policy as the restricted items were being dumped in the country.

According to the circular, the implications are that the growth and employment benefits arising from the policy may be eroded if not checked.

It stated, “The CBN views this development with trepidation. The Economic Intelligence Unit of the bank in collaboration with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission would commence immediate investigation of the accounts of the corporate and entities engaged in this unwholesome act with a view to visiting severe sanctions on all the culprits.

“Such sanctions would, among others, include blacklisting the corporate and their directors; closure of their bank accounts; and restricting them from maintaining any bank account in any bank under the CBN remit. Banks that provided their platforms for such economic abuses would also be appropriately sanctioned.”