Foreign investors may return as FG plans forex injection into economy

Foreign investors may return as FG plans forex injection into economy

The Federal Government may inject some foreign exchange into the economy to shore up the value of the naira while market forces stabilise.

Government is also optimistic that international investors that exited Nigeria due to restrictive currency policies would return with the new economic measures being put in place.

Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Communication and Strategy, Mr Dele Alake, disclosed this on Wednesday while speaking with reporters in Paris.
Alake is part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s team attending the new global financial pact summit in Paris, France to facilitate foreign direct investment into Nigeria.

Alake’s comment is coming on the heels of the recent exchange rate unification which saw the Naira experiencing a significant surge against the US dollar at black market.
On Wednesday, June 21, 2023, the naira traded at an average exchange rate of N758/$1, marking a remarkable increase of 2.82% compared to the previous day’s trading session where the dollar was valued at N780/$1.

This is as a total of $788 million has so far been recorded as cumulative turnover in the official Investor & Exporter Window, a week after the unification of the exchange rate was announced.

Alake said, “In the short term, we have noticed and expected that there will be a slight spike in the demand and then that would affect the value of the naira viz-viz the dollar.

“So, apart from the immediate, short and long-term positive effects of that unification policy, there could be a need for an injection of direct foreign exchange into the economy to shore up the value of the naira while market forces stabilise.”

He said the Tinubu’s policies in the last three weeks had encouraged the foreign nations and investors to become more interested in the affairs of Nigeria, shoring up the country’s economy.

Alake expressed optimism that a lot of international investors that exited Nigeria because of restrictive currency policies would return with the new economic measures being put in place as the nation needed a comprehensive and robust direct foreign investment into the country.
Since its launch a week ago, the naira-to-dollar exchange rate has fluctuated, plunging 29% to N664/$1 on the first day.

Before ending the week marginally stronger at N664/$1, it dropped further to N702/$1.

The I&E Window shut down on Monday at N770.3/$1 then reopened on Tuesday, June 20, at N756.6, continuing the volatility that had been dealt with ever since the unification process began, according to a report by Vanguard.