CBN/Commercial Banking

CBN Introduces Electronic System To Boost Transparency In Forex Market The Central Bank of Nigeria has announced the introduction of an Electronic Foreign Exchange Matching System aimed at transforming the country’s foreign exchange market. This new system is set to be operational in the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market by 1 December 2024, following a two-week test run scheduled for November. The EFEMS is expected to reshape how foreign exchange transactions are conducted in the interbank market by enhancing transparency and promoting a market-driven exchange rate accessible to the public. According to a circular by the Director of the Financial Markets…

World Bank Approves $1.57 Billion Loan For Nigeria The World Bank has approved three new loan requests totalling $1.57bn in financing for Nigeria. According to a statement released on Monday, the approval is to support the Federal Government in strengthening human capital through better health for women, children and adolescents. It added that the approved projects would also help build resilience to the effect of climate change such as floods and drought through improving dams safety and irrigation. The statement read, “The World Bank has today approved three operations for a total of $1.57bn to support the Government of Nigeria…

FAAC Allocations Rise 149% To N13.7trn In 7 Months The Federation Account Allocations Committee (FAAC) disbursements to the Federal Government (FG), 36 states and 774 local governments (LG) rose by 149.4 percent year-on-year (YoY) to N13.72 trillion in the first seven months (January to July) of 2024, 7M ’24, from N5.5 trillion in the corresponding period of 2023. Details of data from the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, FAAC report for the review period showed that in 7M ’24, FG received N2.68 trillion, up by 28.2 percent YoY from N2.09 trillion received in 7M’23. States received N2.91 trillion in the…

Nigeria Becomes World Bank’s IDA Third-largest Debtor, Owes $16.5 Billion Nigeria is the third-largest debtor to the World Bank’s International Development Association as of June 30, 2024, following a significant increase in its borrowing from the institution. A financial statement dated June 30 2024 but recently made public and obtained by our correspondent on Tuesday disclosed this. The IDA, a key arm of the World Bank, provides concessional loans and grants to the world’s poorest countries. These loans, characterised by low interest rates and extended repayment periods, are designed to promote economic growth, reduce inequalities, and improve living conditions in…

FG Fines Fidelity Bank N555.8m For Compromising Customer Data The Federal government through the National Data Protection Commission has slammed Fidelity Bank with a fine of N555.8 million for violating customer data protection laws. This announcement was made by the commission’s National Commissioner, Vincent Olatunji, at the Validation Workshop on the Nigeria Data Protection Act General Application and Implementation Directive in Abuja on Wednesday. According to Olatunji, Fidelity Bank breached the National Data Protection Act (NDP Act) 2023 and the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) 2019, leading to the imposition of the fine. The penalty, which represents 0.1 per cent…

FG Plans New Taxes, Regulation For Cryptocurrency By September The Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Dr. Zacch Adedeji, announced that the Federal Government is set to introduce new tax laws by September, which will include regulations for the cryptocurrency industry. Speaking over the weekend at the FIRS 2024 Stakeholders Engagement with the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Finance in Lagos, Dr. Adedeji highlighted the absence of current legal frameworks governing cryptocurrency in Nigeria, calling for the urgent need for regulation. Nigeria’s cryptocurrency industry is estimated to be worth up to $400 million and one…