The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has reported a significant increase in foreign exchange inflow into the economy in February 2024.
The increase is attributed to substantial remittance payments by Nigerians overseas and purchases of naira assets by foreign portfolio investors.
The apex bank’s Acting Director of Corporate Communications, Mrs Hakama Sidi Ali, made this known in a statement made available to the media.
Sidi noted that the Bank’s data indicates that overseas remittances rose to US$1.3 billion in February 2024, more than four times the US$300 million received in January.
She added that foreign investors purchased more than US$1 billion of Nigerian assets last month, with total portfolio flows of at least US$2.3 billion recorded thus far in 2024 compared to US$3.9 billion seen in total for last year.
According to Sidi, higher FX inflows continued in March 2024, driven by increased investor interest in short-term sovereign debt following the recent adjustment to benchmark interest rates.
She noted that government securities issuances had been significantly oversubscribed, with foreign investors accounting for over 75% of bids received at the auctions conducted on March 1 and 6, 2024.
Sidi recalled that the CBN Governor, Mr. Olayemi Cardoso set out a detailed strategy to curb inflation, stabilise the exchange rate, and spur confidence in the banking system and economy, using last month’s Monetary Policy Committee meeting and a conference call with foreign portfolio investors to set expectations for sustained increases in Nigeria’s foreign currency reserves and improved liquidity in the foreign exchange market.
“All the different measures we have taken to boost reserves and create more liquidity in the markets have started to pay off,” Governor Cardoso said.
“When people understand the real issues and see a strategy and a plan, things tend to calm down. Our objective today is to ensure that the market has supply, that the market functions, and that investors can come in and go out,” he noted.
