Economists Urge CBN To Address Parallel Markets Exchange Rates Gap

On Tuesday, some economists encouraged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to address inadequate foreign exchange supply to close the widening gap between the official and parallel market rates.

The economists were interviewed separately by the Nigeria News Agency (NAN) in Lagos.

 A professor of Economics and Public Policy, Department of Economics, University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom, Akpan Ekpo, advised the apex bank to adjust the official rate close to the parallel market rate.

“What the CBN needs to do in the short and medium terms is to adjust the official rate close to the black market rate and thus narrow the distortion between the rates.

“In the long-term, the economy must produce/manufacture and export non-oil goods and services and earn foreign exchange for the economy.

“The economy can also add value to some goods and export the same rather than mere packaging, assembling, and bottling for local consumption,” he said.

Ekpo commended the CBN for coming up with the managed float approach; noting also that the Naira was not a convertible currency hence the managed float approach was the way to proceed.

Ekpo encourages the Central Bank of Nigeria to watch/monitor the market and know when to make adjustments to narrow the gap.

Also, he urged the federal government to ensure that the refineries were working to save substantial foreign exchange, he also said most of the foreign exchange went for importing refined petroleum products.

Furthermore, Ekpo advised the federal government to discourage the consumption of imported goods and services by Nigerians through taxation, and also stop round-tripping.

Ndubisi Nwokoma, the Director, Centre for Economic Policy Analysis and Research, University of Lagos, Akoka, said: “Addressing the widening gap between the official and parallel foreign exchange markets would require more efficient management of the FX market – on both the supply and demand sides.

“The multiplicity of exchange rates in the market creates room for arbitrage and thus encourages round-tripping.

“Political interference in the allocation of FX to politically connected persons who then sell to end-users helps to sustain the gap in the two markets.

“Insufficient efforts in promoting Made-in-Nigeria goods as well as high levels of imported inputs for industrial production put pressure on effective demand management,” he said.

Professor of Economics at the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun, Sheriffdeen Tella also urged the apex bank to, in the short run, increase foreign exchange supply.

“But we have problems with reserve. So, we have to restrict some imports and encourage exports,” he said.

According to information obtained from BDCs operating in Lagos, the naira exchanged at 417.30 to the dollar at the Investors and Exporters window on Monday and N587 to the dollar at the parallel market (black market).