The World Bank has listed the Nigerian naira among the worst-performing currencies in Africa.
According to World Bank, the
naira weakened by nearly 40% against the US dollar since it was devalued in
June.
It was revealed in the global
bank’s report titled, ‘Africa’s Pulse: An analysis of issues shaping Africa’s
economic future (October 2023 | Volume 28).’
“So far this year, the Nigerian naira and the Angolan kwanza are among the worst performing currencies in the region: these currencies have posted a year-to-date depreciation of nearly 40 per cent.
“The weakening of the naira was
triggered by the central bank’s decision to remove trading restrictions on the
official market. For the kwanza, it was the decision of the central bank to
stop defending the currency as a result of low oil prices and greater debt
payments.”
Other currencies with
significant losses so far in 2023 in Africa included South Sudan (33 per cent),
Burundi (27 per cent), the Democratic Republic of Congo (18 per cent), Kenya
(16 per cent), Zambia (12 per cent), Ghana (12 per cent), and Rwanda (11 per
cent).
It noted that parallel exchange
market rates are also compounding inflationary problems for some countries in
the African region.
The Central Bank of Nigeria
(CBN), in June 2023, directed Deposit Money Banks to remove the rate cap on the
naira at the official Investors and Exporters’ window of the foreign exchange
market.
The apex bank directed the
banks to allow the free float of the naira against the dollar and other global
currencies.
Since then, the naira had
fallen from N473.83/$ to around N800/$ officially.
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