Nigerian economy desperately needs diaspora remittances, says Emefiele - Newstrends
Connect with us

Business

Nigerian economy desperately needs diaspora remittances, says Emefiele

Published

on

Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, has highlighted the importance of diaspora inflows to the economy, stressing the country will be in a position to reap its benefits if remittance infrastructure improves.

He spoke on the newly introduced “CBN Naira 4 Dollar Scheme,” an initiative aimed at incentivising senders and recipients of international money transfers.

Emefiele spoke at a webinar organised by Fidelity Bank Plc, entitled, “The New FX Policy, Implications and Positive Impact on Diaspora Investments”.

The CBN governor explained that the new policy was expected to attract diaspora remittances through the official foreign exchange channels as well as support forex stability in Nigeria.

The CBN had earlier in a circular dated March 5, 2021, signed by A.S. Jibrin, on behalf of the Director, Trade and Exchange Department, stated that the new initiative would become effective on Monday and Saturday, May 8, 2021.

In line with this initiative, all recipients of diaspora remittances through CBN’s licensed International Money Transfer Operators (IMTOs) shall henceforth be paid N5 for every $1 received as remittance inflow.

The apex bank said in the circular, “The CBN shall through commercial banks, pay to remittance recipients the incentive of N5 for every $1 remitted by sender and collected by the designated beneficiary.

“This incentive is to be paid to recipients whether they choose to collect the United States dollar as cash across the counter in a bank or transfer same into their domiciliary account. In effect, a typical recipient of diaspora remittances will at the point of collection, receive not only the USD sent from abroad, but also the additional N5 per USD received.”

Providing more insight into the new policy, Emefiele said it would offer Nigerians in the diaspora a convenient way to send remittances, adding that it would also aid diaspora investments.

He said, “Our policy on the administration of remittance flows is aimed at increasing the transparency of remittance inflows, reducing rent-seeking activities, and providing Nigerians in the diaspora with cheaper and more convenient ways of sending remittances to Nigeria.

“In addition, we believe that this new policy measure will encourage banks and financial institutions to develop products and investments vehicles geared towards attracting investments from Nigerians in the diaspora. We have no doubt that these changes can help to finance a future stream of investment opportunities for Nigerians living abroad.”

However, Emefiele said, “Yet, the introduction of the new policy presented new challenges, as operators and remittance service providers were initially unable to integrate with the agent banks.” He said the central bank would continue to work to resolve the intermittent interface challenges in the marker.

Emefiele disclosed that the average cost of sending $200 worth of remittance to Nigeria from the US was about 4.7 per cent.

He said, “Countries in South Asia, such as Pakistan and Bangladesh, are aware of this impact and they introduced reimbursement schemes to support inflows.

“In Pakistan, the scheme, which is known as free send, has enabled record amount of inflows of over $2 billion a month even during the COVID-19 pandemic. Bangladesh introduced its own scheme in June 2019, which is a two per cent rebate on remittance inflows. Following this action, they have also seen a 20 per cent boost in remittance inflows.

“On the topic of round tripping, there is a maximum amount that you can remit through an IMTO. You can’t send a $100,000 through an IMTO. The CBN’s action, while it does not go far enough in offering total reimbursements, is a step in the right direction in reducing the cost burden for Nigerians remitting funds to Nigeria.”

Emefiele also disclosed that the central bank had been engaging the IMTOs and the banks to ensure more convenience in fund remittance.

He said, “In an effort to reduce the cost burden of remitting funds to Nigeria by working Nigerians in the Diaspora, the Central Bank of Nigeria has introduced a rebate of N5 for every $1 of fund remitted to Nigeria, through IMTOs licensed by the central bank. This rebate will be provided to the bank accounts of beneficiaries, following receipt of remittance inflows.

“We believe this new measure will help to make the process of sending remittance through formal bank channels cheaper and more convenient for Nigerians in the diaspora. This new policy is expected to take effect on the 8th of March 2021.

“Accordingly, the CBN strives to constantly improve our remittance infrastructure, ease the process of international money transfer and simplify the experience for senders and recipients. In this regard, we note that the efficiency of remittance services, especially as provided by the IMTOs is critical to our aim of boosting inflows. We would constantly seek to fine-tune our policies to mitigate factors that affect the quality of service customers face when using IMTOs.”

Loading

Auto

Transport Expert Segun Musa to Chair 12th Nigeria Transport Lecture

Published

on

Transport Expert Segun Musa to Chair 12th Nigeria Transport Lecture

 

Renowned transport and logistics expert, Dr. Segun Musa, has been named chairman of the 12th edition of the Nigeria Transport Lecture scheduled to hold in Lagos on June 18, 2026.

Organised by Transport Day newspaper, this year’s lecture will focus on the theme, “Multi-modal Transportation Safety in Nigeria: Prospects, Challenges and Contribution to National Growth.”

Musa, Chairman and Managing Director of Widescope Logistics International, is widely respected for his extensive experience in transportation, logistics and supply chain management spanning several decades.

The event will also feature a keynote presentation by the Registrar of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN), Mr. Kingsley Onyekachi Igwe.

Scheduled to take place at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja, the lecture is expected to attract key stakeholders from both the public and private sectors to deliberate on critical safety issues, policy reforms and strategies for strengthening Nigeria’s multi-modal transportation network.

Other notable speakers include the National President of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transportation (CILT), Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi, and the Dean of the School of Transportation and Logistics, Lagos State University (LASU), Prof. Ogochukwu Ugboma.

Over the years, the Nigeria Transport Lecture has evolved into a leading industry platform, bringing together policymakers, regulators, academics and business leaders to discuss solutions to challenges confronting the transport and logistics sector.

Previous editions have featured distinguished personalities such as former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside; former Federal Permanent Secretary, Dr. Anthonia Ekpa; and Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Dr. Kayode Opeifa, among others.

Ahead of the gathering, the Editor of Transport Day Media, Mr. Frank Kintum, said the annual lecture has become an important platform for industry stakeholders to examine emerging issues and develop practical solutions for the transport sector.

He noted that this year’s focus on multi-modal transportation safety was informed by the increasing integration of road, rail, maritime and air transport systems, stressing that safety must remain at the centre of efforts to modernise the sector.

“As governments continue to invest in transport infrastructure and interconnectivity, safety cannot be treated as an afterthought. The success and sustainability of these investments depend largely on how effectively safety concerns are addressed across all modes of transport,” Kintum stated.

He further explained that the lecture forms part of Transport Day Media’s broader mission to encourage policy dialogue, knowledge sharing and industry collaboration aimed at building a safer, more efficient and globally competitive transport and logistics ecosystem in Nigeria and the wider African region.

Loading

Continue Reading

Business

NERC Orders Compensation for Band A Customers Over Power Supply Shortfalls

Published

on

Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC)

NERC Orders Compensation for Band A Customers Over Power Supply Shortfalls

 

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has approved a special compensation package for eligible Band A electricity customers affected by power supply shortfalls between February and March 2026.

The regulator announced the measure in a public notice issued on Thursday, citing widespread generation constraints that prevented electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) from meeting the minimum service levels promised to some Band A customers during the period.

According to NERC, the disruptions were largely triggered by inadequate gas supply as well as vandalism of critical gas and transmission infrastructure, factors it said were beyond the control of the DisCos.

Under the directive, Band A feeders that maintained an average daily supply of between 18 and 20 hours will continue to receive compensation under the existing framework contained in Addendum No. NERC/2024/003, covering both Maximum Demand (MD) and Non-Maximum Demand (Non-MD) customers.

For feeders that recorded less than 18 hours of daily electricity supply, NERC ruled that they would not be downgraded during the affected period.

Instead, eligible Non-MD customers will receive compensation equivalent to 20 per cent of the approved February 2026 energy cap for their feeders, while MD customers will receive credits equal to 20 per cent of the average energy billed per MD customer in February 2026.

The commission said prepaid customers would receive the compensation through energy token credits, while postpaid customers would benefit through adjustments to their electricity bills.

NERC directed all DisCos to complete compensation for February 2026 by May 31, 2026, and for March 2026 no later than June 30, 2026.

The regulator also barred DisCos from using the compensation to offset outstanding customer debts and instructed them to clearly communicate the value and period of the credits granted to beneficiaries.

Reaffirming its commitment to consumer protection, NERC said it would continue to monitor implementation of the directive and verify compliance across the industry to ensure that all eligible customers receive the compensation due to them.

The commission added that the intervention is aimed at safeguarding consumer interests while supporting the stability and long-term sustainability of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry.

Loading

Continue Reading

Business

Petrol Prices Fall Nationwide as Dangote Refinery Cuts Ex-Depot Rate

Published

on

Petrol Prices Fall Nationwide as Dangote Refinery Cuts Ex-Depot Rate

Petrol Prices Fall Nationwide as Dangote Refinery Cuts Ex-Depot Rate

Nigeria’s petrol prices have begun to decline across several parts of the country after Dangote Refinery announced a fresh reduction in its ex-depot price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), raising hopes of further relief for motorists and businesses grappling with high fuel costs.

The 650,000 barrels-per-day refinery reduced its ex-depot petrol price from N1,275 per litre to N1,250 per litre, while also lowering the ex-depot price of diesel from N1,800 per litre to N1,700 per litre. The company attributed the latest adjustment to a decline in global crude oil prices and its commitment to making refined petroleum products more affordable for Nigerians.

The development has already triggered price reductions at several filling stations, particularly in Lagos and Ogun states, where some marketers are now selling petrol below N1,300 per litre.

Checks along the Mowe-Ibafo axis of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway showed that marketers moved swiftly to adjust pump prices following the refinery’s announcement. MRS stations reduced petrol prices to N1,286 per litre, while NIPCO and Heyden sold at N1,290 per litre. SGR outlets adjusted their pump price to N1,297 per litre.

The downward trend was also noticeable in the diesel market, where several stations reduced prices to around N1,800 per litre from previous levels of about N1,900 per litre.

However, not all retailers have fully reflected the latest reduction. Some outlets operated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) were still selling petrol above the N1,300 mark. In Ibafo, NNPC stations dispensed fuel at N1,305 per litre, while Mobil and Asharami stations sold at N1,310 and N1,320 per litre respectively.

READ ALSO:

Industry observers believe the latest move by Dangote Refinery could lead to additional price adjustments nationwide as marketers exhaust existing inventories and take delivery of products purchased at the new rate.

The reduction comes after months of sustained pressure on consumers following a sharp rise in fuel prices. Petrol prices had surged from around N830 per litre to over N1,300 per litre in many parts of the country as global crude oil prices climbed above $115 per barrel amid tensions involving the United States and Iran.

Energy analysts say increasing local refining capacity is beginning to reshape Nigeria’s downstream petroleum market. Since commencing large-scale operations, Dangote Refinery has emerged as the country’s dominant fuel supplier, significantly reducing dependence on imported petroleum products and introducing stronger competition among marketers.

The latest price cut is expected to provide some relief to households and businesses struggling with rising transportation, logistics and production costs. Many Nigerians are also hoping that continued declines in global crude prices and improved local supply will force further reductions in pump prices in the coming weeks.

Stakeholders, however, caution that future petrol price movements will continue to depend on global oil market trends, foreign exchange stability, transportation costs and overall supply conditions within the domestic market.

For now, motorists are beginning to enjoy modest savings at the pump, with the prospect of more competitive pricing as marketers respond to changing market realities.

Petrol Prices Fall Nationwide as Dangote Refinery Cuts Ex-Depot Rate

Loading

Continue Reading

Trending