World Bank Lists Naira Among Africa’s Worst Performing Currencies

The World Bank has ranked Nigerian Naira as among the worst-performing currencies in sub-Sahara Africa in 2024.

The World Bank, in its latest edition of Africa’s Pulse report, disclosed that the Naira is at the same level with the Ethiopian Birr, and South Sudanese Pound in terms of decline in the region.

The report disclosed that the continued increase in the demand for dollars and limited dollar inflow is responsible for Naira depreciation in the last months.

According to the report, as of August, the Naira lost about 43 percent.

It added that by August 2024, the Ethiopian birr, Nigerian naira, and South Sudanese pound were among the worst performers in the region.

According to the report, the Nigerian naira continued losing value, with a year-to-date depreciation of about 43 percent as of end-August.

It stated that the increase in demand for US dollars in the parallel market, driven by financial institutions, money managers, and non-financial end-users, combined with limited dollar inflows and slow foreign exchange disbursements to currency exchange bureaus by the central bank explain the weakening of the naira.

The Naira plummeted to a new record low, closing at N1,700 per dollar in the parallel market on October 14, 2024, according to data from Bureau de Change (BDC) operators.

This represents a 0.29% drop from its previous rate of N1,695/$1 recorded on October 11, despite a surge in crude oil prices, which have surpassed $80 per barrel.