Forex crisis: CBN, National Security Adviser move against currency speculators

The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) have initiated a joint beat to tackle the illicit activities of foreign and local currency speculators.
The scheme, which will employ the services of some other security and law enforcement agencies like the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), is aimed at identifying and punishing saboteurs of the nation’s foreign exchange market.

Disclosing the new joint move in a statement on Tuesday, February 20, the head of strategic Communication at the ONSA, Zakari U. Mijinyawa, said the collaborative move by the ONSA, the CBN, and other agencies will significantly, among other targets, enhance sustainable economic growth.

The statement noted that the new effort is inevitable as previous efforts by the EFCC, which had earlier put a 7,000-man special task force together, had not deterred the criminal activities of currency speculators and other saboteurs of the economy.

He said: “In a concerted effort to safeguard Nigeria’s foreign exchange market and combat speculative activities, the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) are joining forces to address challenges impacting the nation’s economic stability.

“To reduce the pressure on the naira, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has raised a 7,000-man special task force across its 14 zonal commands to clamp down on dollar racketeers.

“Yet, recent intelligence reports have highlighted continued illicit activities within the Nigerian foreign exchange market, the ONSA and CBN are therefore embarking on this collaborative approach to tackle these infractions.

“This partnership will involve a coordinated effort with key law enforcement agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Nigeria Customs Service and the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU).

“The primary objective of this alliance is to systematically identify, thoroughly investigate and appropriately penalize individuals and organizations involved in wrongful activities within the FX market.

“By leveraging the expertise of these agencies, we aim to deter malicious practices, protect investor interests, and promote sustainable economic growth.

“This joint effort underscores the commitment of the Nigerian government to improving its Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) framework and exiting the grey list of the Financial Action Task Force. In addition, the efforts will make progress in ensuring a stable and transparent foreign exchange market, fostering investor confidence, and advancing the nation’s economic well-being.”

The statement, however, noted that previous efforts of the CBN had been commendable, but added that these previous efforts had continuously been undermined by speculators and other economic saboteurs.

“The CBN’s proactive measures to stabilize the foreign exchange market and stimulate economic activities have been commendable. However, the effectiveness of these initiatives is being undermined by the activities of speculators, both domestic and international, operating through various channels, thereby exacerbating the depreciation of the Nigerian Naira and contributing to inflation and economic instability.

“Recall that, to address the exchange rate volatility, the CBN initiated a comprehensive strategy to enhance liquidity in the forex market, including unifying FX market segments, clearing outstanding FX obligations, introducing new operational mechanisms for Bureau De Change operators, enforcing the Net Open Position limit for commercial banks, and adjusting the remunerable Standing Deposit Facility cap”, the statement said.