Forex backlog: CBN disburses $61m to foreign airlines
CBN Governor, Yemi Cardoso
By Kadiri Abdulrahman
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has disbursed 61.64 million dollars to foreign airlines through various commercial banks.
Tbe bank said in a statement issued by its Acting Director, Corporate Communications, Mrs Hakama Sidi-Ali, in Abuja on Sunday.
According to Sidi-Ali, the disbursement is in fulfilment of CBN’s commitment to eliminate the backlog of pending matured foreign exchange in the banks.
She said that the initiative was part of the CBN’s efforts to reduce its remaining liability to the airlines.
Sidi-Ali said that in the past three months, the CBN had also redeemed outstanding forward liabilities of close to two billion dollars.
“This underscores the CBN ’s commitment to the resolution of pending obligations and a functional foreign exchange market.
“These payments signify CBN’s ongoing efforts to settle all remaining valid forward transactions, with the aim of alleviating the current pressure on the country’s exchange rate.
“It is anticipated that this initiative would provide a considerable boost to the Naira against other major world currencies and further increase investor confidence in the Nigerian economy,” she said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the total trapped fund of foreign airlines in the country is pegged at about 800 million dollars.
This led to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) threatening that some foreign airlines may be forced to quit the Nigerian markets if nothing is done about the monies, which are majorly from ticket revenue
The Association said that the Nigerian government is currently holding the highest amount of airline-trapped funds globally.(NAN)
Edited by Ese E. Eniola Williams
Published By
Has also recently published
Economy/BusinessNovember 30, 2024Hackaholics 5.0: Wema Bank awards N145m to 7 innovators
Economy/BusinessNovember 27, 2024Oyetola unveils vision for sustainable maritime economy, resource development
BusinessNovember 23, 2024NDIC reassures Heritage Bank depositors of prompt payment
General NewsNovember 1, 2024IOM harps on youth involvement for peaceful, just society
