An Abuja- based economic and development research organisation, Pol Eco Analytics, has cautioned the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) against policy summersaults in its bid to boost forex liquidity.
The organisation observed that the CBN has re-introduced the Retail Dutch Auction System (RDAS) to conduct the sale of foreign exchange to end users, after it was jettisoned by the apex bank.
In a press statement made available to newsmen in Abuja, the Lead Researcher and Policy Analyst, Pol Eco Analytics, Mr Olamilekan Adefolarin, said though Pol Eco Analytics is strongly in support of any genuine and proactive monetary policies that would strengthen the ailing Naira at this point, this is not the first time the Dutch auction system process is being implemented by the CBN.
He recalled that under Godwin Emiefele, the Retail Dutch Auction System (RDAS) was in use as against the Whole Sale Dutch System (WSDAS) that was implemented under Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi,.
“Significantly, the Whole Sale Dutch System allowed CBN to sell FX to banks alone, while on the other hand, the Retail Dutch Auction System (RDAS) allows direct sales of forex to end users by CBN through the banks.
“Unfortunately, the excuse given for dumping the Whole Sale Dutch System (WSDAS) for Retail Dutch Auction System (RDAS) was the dollarization of the Nigerian economy. Similarly, the CBN has deployed Inter Bank Settlement Allocation Rationale as mechanism to sell forex.”
The Lead Researcher, Pol Eco Analyst expressed concerns that over the last nine months, the apex bank has introduced different short-to-medium term strategies of fixing Nigeria’s forex challenges and Medium-to-Long Term Strategy focused on improving FX Inflows and stabilising the Naira, as well as interventions to reduce the challenges faced by Diaspora remittance flows, and forex from oil and gas receipt flow into our External Foreign Reserve.
Others, he said, include; strengthening surveillance and technological capabilities to monitor cryptocurrency transactions, and while all FX transaction windows have been consolidated into the NAFEM platform, the CBN removed the exchange rate cap to enable International Money Transfer Operators’ (IMTOs) participation, as well as revamping the Bureau de Change (BDC) segment.
“Without a doubt, the CBN’s current policies, despite promising long-term benefits,have their own challenges, reason being that the model fails to address the challenge of attracting adequate liquidity sustainable for the Nigerian macroeconomic environment.
While acknowledging the fact that current monetary reforms are a crucial measure to help overcome naira depreciation, Pol Eco Analytics said that to make a lasting difference in monetary policy impact in Nigeria, Cardoso should refrain from policy experimentations amid the various policy reforms targeted at a stable FX liquidity.
“Regrettably, many Nigerians are yet to come to terms with the free float exchange rate regime of the CBN and questions are still being asked about the willing-buyer, willing-seller regime of the Investors and Exporters Window.
“Pol Eco Analytics strongly believe that
addressing Naira’s volatility will not be achieved through policy experimentation but strategically tackling liquidity concerns.”
