News

Reps discover 5 banks withholding $5bn in forex

Published

1 year ago

February 7, 2024

Trends Admin

House of Representatives

Reps discover 5 banks withholding $5bn in forex

On Wednesday, the House of Representatives discovered that five banks were withholding $5 billion in currencies.

Worried about the country’s foreign exchange market instability, the House directed the joint Committees on Banking Regulations and Banking Institutions to hold an investigative hearing into banks and financial institutions’ failure to comply with CBN directives on Net Open Position Limits.

The resolution was passed after the adoption of a motion on a Matter of Urgent National Importance regarding the need for banks to implement the CBN’s policies on holding excess long foreign exchange and net open position limits, sponsored by Chairman of the House Committee on Defence, Hon. Babajimi Benson.

In his lead debate, Hon. Benson, who observed that the apex bank is tasked with regulating the monetary policies of the country as provided for by the CBN Act, frowned upon the blatant disregard for extant financial regulations.

According to him, “Records show that GTB, Zenith Bank, UBA, and First Bank have a cumulative excess holding of over $5 billion as of January 2024. The only fully compliant bank is Stanbic IBTC, which has made all FX in its reserve available to their clients.

“It is important to note that these banks often obtain foreign exchange either through purchase, borrowing, or allocation from the CBN at the official rate of N461.5 to a dollar for their various customers but hoard them as part of their bank balances or reserves. They eventually sell at higher rates to make extra profit.

“It is this speculative practice that has prompted the CBN to issue a fresh directive centered around the Net Open Position (NOP) for all commercial banks. Simply put, the NOP measures the difference between a bank’s foreign currency assets (what it owns) and foreign currency liabilities (what it owes). Investigations have shown that banks hold far more forex than they require, thereby creating artificial scarcity and an increase in the exchange rate.

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“The new CBN directive will help limit how much foreign exchange banks can hold and for how long. The aim is to discourage hoarding of forex, thereby making it available for intended users at reasonable rates.

“Despite measures adopted by CBN in the past and based on previous experiences with CBN policies directives, many banks are in default of its implementation. This explains why eight banks currently hold a huge NOP of over $6 billion while there is a biting scarcity. This motion will provide the legislative impetus for the required action to compel them to fully comply with the directive.”

Hon. Benson observed that Section 8 (4) and (5) of the CBN Act require that the CBN Governor is expected to brief the relevant Committees of the National Assembly during the semi-annual hearings as well as provide periodic reports on the performance of the economy to the National Assembly.

While frowning upon the non-compliance to the extant law, Hon. Benson lamented that: “there has been a steady rise in the rate of the dollar in comparison to the naira. It rose to N1,520 to the dollar last week.

“The House is also concerned that this astronomical rise has been caused by diverse market forces and certain economic policies adopted by the government, including the liberalization of the dollar.

“The House is further concerned, however, that commercial banks and certain financial institutions in Nigeria usually hold back a large part of forex they obtain either through purchase, borrowing, or allocation from the CBN rather than lending to their customers with a view to selling it when the exchange rate is high.

“The House is worried that this speculative activity by commercial banks and certain financial institutions has further exacerbated the harsh economic situation in the country and led to difficulty by legitimate businesses to obtain forex for their business transactions.

“The House is aware that the CBN has intervened by introducing new monetary policies to check the rise in the rate of the dollar, among which are the Net Open Position Limits and holding excess long foreign exchange.

“The House is also aware that commercial banks and certain financial institutions are reluctant to implement the monetary measures put in place by the apex bank to check these unwholesome practices by banks and other financial institutions in the country.

“The House is concerned that unless drastic legislative measures are taken to enforce the implementation of these directives, the country will continue to experience dire economic hardship as a result of the continuous rise in foreign exchange rates,” he warned.

To this end, the House mandated its Committee on Legislative Compliance to ensure full implementation.

Reps discover 5 banks withholding $5bn in forex

News

Libya nabs three Nigerians over drug trafficking

Published

3 days ago

April 15, 2025

Trends Admin

Libya nabs three Nigerians over drug trafficking

The Samnu Police Department in southern Libya detained three Nigerians for drug trafficking.

According to a statement issued by Migrant Rescue Watch on X (previously Twitter) on Sunday, the suspects were apprehended carrying a quantity of hashish that officials believe was meant for sale.

The arrests were made during a targeted operation in the town of Samnu, Murzuq region, which is known for smuggling and human trafficking due to its proximity to Libya’s southern borders.

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This operation is part of a larger security effort to combat drug-related crimes and cross-border trafficking of migrants.

The suspects’ identities have not yet been made public. Authorities acknowledged that the case had been turned over to the public prosecutor for further investigation and judicial action.

The statement said. “Samnu Police Dept. arrested 3 #migrants of Nigerian nationality on charges of drug trafficking. The trio were found in possession of a quantity of hashish earmarked for sale. The case was referred to public prosecution.”

Libya nabs three Nigerians over drug trafficking

News

NIS expands contactless passport renewal to United States, others

Published

4 days ago

April 14, 2025

Trends Admin

NIS expands contactless passport renewal to United States, others

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has announced the expansion of its Contactless Biometric Passport Application System to several countries in the Americas.

In a recent statement by ACI AS Akinlabi, Service Public Relations Officer at NIS Headquarters in Abuja, confirmed that the service under Comptroller General Kemi Nandap is rolling out the next stage of implementation across Brazil, the United States, Mexico, and Jamaica this month.

The contactless system, which enables Nigerians living abroad to renew their travel document without physically visiting passport offices for biometric enrollment, went live in the United States on April 11. Mexico, Brazil and Jamaica are scheduled to gain access on April 14.

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“This expansion represents our commitment to innovative and efficient service delivery to Nigerians anywhere in the world,” said ACI AS Akinlabi, Service Public Relations Officer at NIS Headquarters in Abuja.

The application system is currently available on the Google Play Store as “NIS Mobile” and allows passport renewal without in-person biometric enrollment. An iOS version for Apple devices is under development and will be released soon, alongside an enhanced version of the Android app to improve user experience and accessibility.

The NIS further confirmed that the Contactless Passport App is now operational in Canada, the USA, Mexico, Jamaica, Brazil, Europe, and Asia. Australia and Nigeria itself remain pending, with implementation dates to be announced in the future.

NIS expands contactless passport renewal to United States, others

News

Tariff: NACCIMA warns against economic instability, job losses

Published

4 days ago

April 14, 2025

Trends Admin

President of NACCIMA, Dele Oye

Tariff: NACCIMA warns against economic instability, job losses

The Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (NACCIMA) has expressed fear that unless the Federal Government takes deliberate steps to increase Nigeria’s non-export earnings, the current global tariff war may lead to job losses, low foreign exchange inflow, and economic instability.

This was the position of the President of NACCIMA, Dele Oye, as the chairman at the Vanguard Economic Discourse 2025 with the theme, “Nigeria’s Economic Outlook 2025: Hardship and Pathways to Sustainable Recovery”, held last week in Lagos.

Among other things, Oye who is also the Chairman of the Organised Private Sector of Nigeria (OPSN), emphasized the need for a viable and affordable homegrown democracy.

His words: “In this pivotal moment, we must recognize and confront the significant challenges before us—challenges that have been magnified by the advent of America’s “America First” policy.

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“This paradigm shift in global trade, driven by protectionism and tariffs, presents a unique and formidable array of obstacles for developing nations such as ours.

“The world we once knew, one characterized by cooperative, rules-based trading systems under the World Trade Organization, has given way to an environment fraught with uncertainty. This transformation not only disrupts global markets and supply chains but poses an acute threat to our competitive standing in international trade.

“The recent implementation of a 14% tariff on Nigerian exports to the United States directly jeopardizes what has historically been a critical market for our key goods, including crude oil, liquefied natural gas, and agricultural products. “The ripple effects of reduced demand could precipitate job losses, economic instability, and a decline in vital foreign exchange inflows, particularly for our non-oil sectors”.

“Indeed, the ramifications of current U.S. policies go beyond tariffs. We are witnessing a significant decrease in funding for initiatives that empower Africa’s burgeoning start-ups. The $51 million cut from the United States Development Fund, which affects countries like Nigeria and Kenya, exemplifies the broader challenges we face. The grants previously allotted to our SMEs are critical for nurturing innovation and entrepreneurship within our local economies”.

In the face of these challenges, Oye said Nigeria must act decisively and strategically to reshape its economic destiny where adversity can give rise to opportunity.