Nigeria’s external reserves climb to $36.89bn, says CBN gov

Nigeria’s external reserves climb to $36.89bn, says CBN gov

Nigerians can look forward to economic improvements as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) announces an increase in the country’s external reserves.

According to CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso, the reserves have reached $36.89 billion as of July 16, 2024.

Cardoso made this announcement in Abuja during a briefing with the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance, and other Financial Institutions.

He highlighted several positive economic indicators, including a significant reduction in the disparity between official and Bureau De Change (BDC) rates, which has decreased from N162.62 in January to N47.22 in June 2024. This reduction points to enhanced market efficiency and fewer opportunities for arbitrage.

Addressing the committee, Cardoso stated that various measures and strategies are in place to address emerging economic challenges. He noted that the increase in external reserves, up from $33.22 billion at the end of December 2023, is primarily due to revenues from crude oil-related taxes and third-party receipts.

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“In the first quarter of 2024, we maintained a current account surplus and saw improvements in our trade balance,” said Cardoso. “Our reserves as of the end of June 2024 are sufficient to cover over 11 months of imports of goods and services, or 14 months of goods alone. This is well above the international benchmark of three months, providing a strong buffer against external shocks.”

Cardoso also emphasized the robustness and diversity of Nigeria’s banking sector, which includes twenty-six commercial banks, six merchant banks, and four non-interest banks. He reported significant improvements in key indicators such as capital adequacy, liquidity, and non-performing loan ratios, highlighting the sector’s growing stability and resilience.

The governor noted the impressive performance of the equity market, with the All-Share Index rising by 33.81 percent and market capitalization increasing by 38.33 percent from December 2023 to June 2024. These gains reflect a growing confidence among investors.

While acknowledging these positive developments, Cardoso assured that the CBN remains committed to policies that support sustainable growth in the financial markets and overall economic stability.

Senator Adetokunbo Abiru, Chairman of the Senate Committee, opened the session by stating that the primary goal of the interaction was to receive updates on the CBN’s efforts, activities, and plans regarding monetary policy.

Nigeria’s external reserves climb to $36.89bn, says CBN gov