Economists hail CBN decision on free float of Naira
Economists have continued to give kudos to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for allowing the Naira to float freely on the Investors and Exporters (I&E) window.
Banks are now allowed to trade foreign exchange on the I & E window at any rate, subject to N1 spread between buy and sell.
Recall the Naira on Wednesday exchanged N664.04/$1, a drop which showed a 40.78 per cent when compared with N471.67 it exchanged to the dollar on Tuesday.
Chairman of the Foundation for Economic Research and Training (FERT), Prof. Akpan Ekpo, said the CBN decision to allow the Naira to float freely is good for the economy.
“It is a good attempt to narrow the gap between the official rate and that on the street. This will reduce the distortion.
“However, it will not eliminate the street rate, otherwise known as the black market rate. The forex matter has to do with supply and access.
“We should be ready for further rise in the inflation rate,” he said.
Ekpo advised that the economy be diversified for more productive and manufactured non-oil goods be allowed for exports, thereby ensuring inflow of foreign exchange.
Prof. Ken Ife, a development economist, also spoke in the same vein, describing the decision as a fantastic way going forward.
“The action that has been taken, its about the I&E window asking banks to now buy and sell on the I&E window, So, they have opened up the I&E window but not the black market.
“You cannot force the black markets to come and join the official window. So, what happens is that it is only the demand and supply that will push the black market closer to the official window.
“What will happen is when the supply increases in the official window, the rates will fall and the black market will fall along. As the rates begin to fall, the black market will follow through,” he said.
Ife said that the free float was not a magic wand that would cause the activities of the black market to disappear.
He said that it would rather cause the demand in the black market to continue to reduce as the prices and gaps close down.
“However, the main thing is that if you don’t have extreme supply of dollar going into the system, there will be a problem.
“This is because what will happen is that there is going to be a sharp rise in the price of dollar.
“Then, as the supply comes in, the price will start to come down because the sharp rise is caused by the uncertainty and speculation.
“For example, if we reduce the importation of refined products, then it means that NNPC will no longer be spending more dollar. This means that more of that dollar can get into the market, and then also if we cut back on certain things.
“These are the things that can bring in and suddenly force the rates to crash. It will also save the central bank from burning the reserves to subsidise the market,” he added.
