The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) sold $195million on the foreign exchange market on Monday as part of its efforts to improve dollar liquidity and reduce pressure on the local currency, the naira, a bank spokesman said in a statement.
Nigeria is battling a currency crisis brought about by low oil prices, which has tipped its economy into recession and created chronic dollar shortages. It wants to attract foreign investors and at the same time maintain a strong currency to ward off inflation.
The central bank has been intervening on the official market in recent months to try to narrow the spread between rates on the official market and black market. It has sold over $5billion since February.
In an emailed statement, the central bank said $100 million was released to authorized currency dealers and $50 million to small and medium-size enterprises. A further $45 million was provided for such items as medical fees, tuition fees and
business travel.
The regulator, in notices to commercial lenders on Monday, said an auction would be held for spot and forward deals which would be settled within the next 60 days.
Last week, the bank said it would continue to intervene in the foreign exchange market to support the naira.
Nigeria has at least six different exchange rates including a retail rate set by licensed exchange bureaus, the official and black market rates and a window for investors where the naira can be traded at rates set freely between buyers and sellers.
The naira was quoted at 371.41 on the investors’ window on Monday.
The local currency traded at 368 on the black market and traded at around 305.80 to the dollar on the official window.