Business
RT200: FX Repatriation Hits $2.9bn – CBN
Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele, says the race to 200 billion dollars in foreign exchange repatriation (RT200) has generated over 2.9 billion dollars as at June.
Emefiele said this on the sidelines of Monetary Policy Committee meeting yesterday in Lagos.
The RT200 Non-Oil Export Proceeds Repatriation Rebate Scheme is aimed to increase the country’s foreign reserves by 200 billion in Foreign exchange earnings from non-oil proceeds over the next three to five years under a new export proceeds repatriation scheme.
He noted that the RT200 incentive also recorded gains in increasing foreign exchange inflows into the country.
“The MPC was delighted that we are making progress with these initiatives, we are making progress for the 100 for 100.
“I think we have disbursed slightly above N50 billion to the 100 for 100 which is meant to really drive support for those who want to produce goods that can be exported out of the country to earn dollar revenues.
“Indeed, we are delighted that the race to 200 billion dollars is yielding good results. We found out that we had received inflows as at June this year over 2.9 billion dollars.
“ You all know that during the first quarter of 2022, we disbursed N3.6 billion as rebates for those who have conducted export activities.
“Hence, for Q2 2022, we have this morning just approved the release and payment of rebates to those who conducted the export activities to the tune of N20 billion,’’ he said.
The governor explained that the reason the bank was paying slightly over N20 billion for Q2 was because it was discovered that there had been a lot of exports found to be eligible for the rebates which were in over 600 million dollars.
Emefiele expressed joy that a lot more people were embracing export in Nigeria as a result of the incentives that were provided and paid promptly, thereby, increasing export earnings.
“We had hinted that at some point, we will get to the point where the banks will not even need to come to the CBN to buy forex exchange to meet important needs of their customers.
“We are delighted that we are moving gradually in that direction and I am optimistic that these numbers will improve by around the end of the year,’’ said Emefiele.
“Payment of tuition fees for undergraduate/postgraduate studies shall be subject to a maximum limit of $25,000.00 per semester,” the Manual states.
The expansion of international card limits also reflects growing confidence among lenders that foreign exchange liquidity has improved enough to support retail dollar transactions.
Speaking recently at the BusinessDay 14th Annual CEO Forum in Lagos, CBN Olayemi Cardoso, governor of the CBN said buying and selling activities now increasingly determine outcomes in the foreign exchange market, unlike in the past when market participants relied heavily on routine Central Bank interventions.
According to Cardoso, Nigeria’s net foreign exchange reserves have risen from just over $3 billion at the start of the reform programme to more than $40 billion, while gross reserves have climbed to about $52 billion, providing stronger confidence for investors and enabling the Central Bank to reserve interventions for periods of market stress rather than day-to-day liquidity management.
The restoration and expansion of international naira card spending limits are increasingly being seen as one of the clearest signs that the benefits of the CBN’s foreign exchange reforms are beginning to reach households, students and businesses making legitimate cross-border payments.
The Secretary-General and Chief Executive Officer, WEC, Dr Angela Wilkinson, disclosed this in a statement, last Thursday.
“Nigeria’s participation comes at a pivotal time as the country seeks to expand energy access, strengthen energy security, accelerate gas development and mobilise the capital required for industrialisation and sustainable economic growth.
“WEC Nigeria will convene leaders from across the energy ecosystem, apply the WEC’s globally recognised Energy Trilemma framework to Nigeria’s unique context, and promote evidence-based dialogue, practical collaboration and informed policymaking.
“It will also ensure that Nigerian and broader African perspectives contribute meaningfully to global energy conversations,” she said.
Wilkinson expressed confidence that Nigeria would play a significant leadership role at the World Energy Congress scheduled for Riyadh in April 2027 and beyond.
The statement also quoted the Chairman of WEC Nigeria, Isa, as describing the country’s participation as an opportunity to deepen national and African leadership within the global energy community through practical solutions tailored to regional development priorities.
He said the platform would promote collaboration across sectors and attract sustainable investments into Nigeria’s energy sector.
The Chief Executive Officer of WEC Nigeria, Wunti, was quoted in the statement as saying that the council would connect leadership, evidence and investment to build a secure, affordable and sustainable energy system.
“This system will be capable of driving economic growth and shared prosperity.”
According to him, the platform will also connect Nigerian institutions and businesses with international knowledge, technology, partnerships and investment opportunities through the World Energy Council’s global network.
Recall that WEC, founded in 1923, is the world’s oldest independent and impartial community of energy leaders and practitioners, advancing informed, collaborative and practical action across the global energy system.