CBN Injects $11.5bn Into the Economy in the First Quarter

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) injected a combined $11.5 billion into the nation’s foreign exchange market to stabilise the economy and support the Naira value in the first quarter of the year.

According to the latest report from the apex bank, the central bank injected $2.96 billion into the nation’s forex market in the month of January. Another $3.39 billion was used to support the economy in February while $4.7 billion was supplied in the month of March, the very month the economy was locked and all operations grounded to curb the spread of COVID-19.

A further breakdown of the report revealed that the Investors and Exporters’ foreign exchange window, Small and Medium enterprises and Invisible segments received a total of $7.23 billion of the $11.5 billion, the Bureau De Change segment received $3.6 billion while the Interbank and WDAS/RDAS got the rest in the first quarter.

The report noted that the apex bank injected a total sum of $14.72 billion and $28.55 billion into the economy in 2018 and 2019, respectively.

Meanwhile, the central bank is yet to commence the sales of forex to the bureau de change following the March suspension.

But has commenced partial sales to all commercial banks for onward sales to parents and small businesses across the country.

Mr Isaac Okorafor, the Director, Corporate Communications, CBN, had said, “The CBN has also made complete arrangements to resume foreign exchange sales to the BDC segment of the market for business travels, personal travels and other designated retail uses, as soon as international flights resume.”