Forex crisis

Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, has revealed a new government policy that would permit Nigerians who currently hold dollars outside the formal banking system to bring those funds into the financial system.

Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, has revealed a new government policy that would permit Nigerians who currently hold dollars outside the formal banking system to bring those funds into the financial system.

Edun said such individuals have a nine-month grace period to comply with the directive without attracting legal liability or financial penalties.

The Finance Minister spoke after the National Economic Council meeting, chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima on Thursday, where an update was given on the Excess Crude Account currently standing at $473,754.57, the Natural Resources Fund at N26,105,837,627.67, and the Stabilisation Account at N36,299,452,763.62.

BUSINESSForex crisis: FG gives Nigerians 9 months to deposit dollars in bankPublished on October 31, 2024By Williams Anuku

Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, has revealed a new government policy that would permit Nigerians who currently hold dollars outside the formal banking system to bring those funds into the financial system.

Edun said such individuals have a nine-month grace period to comply with the directive without attracting legal liability or financial penalties.

The Finance Minister spoke after the National Economic Council meeting, chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima on Thursday, where an update was given on the Excess Crude Account currently standing at $473,754.57, the Natural Resources Fund at N26,105,837,627.67, and the Stabilisation Account at N36,299,452,763.62.

Edun equally gave an update on government economic relief measures, saying 25 million Nigerians have benefitted from federal social protection initiatives, including digital outreach, microenterprise loans, and sector-specific support for power, agriculture, manufacturing, health, and compressed natural gas, CNG, initiatives.

He said: “One element of the cost increase is the foreign exchange rate, and that is demand and supply. There is going to be a release today, details by the Federal Government through the Ministry of Finance, in conjunction with the Central Bank, a programme, starting today, the 31st of October, and lasting nine months, that will allow people to bring in cash that is outside the banking system.

They just meet the normal Know Your Customer criteria of banks and they have an opportunity to bring in those funds, make them safe, make them secure, and make them available through normal economic activity. The details of that, the guidelines of that, will be released; first of all, the announcement by the Ministry of Finance and the guidelines will be followed very quickly by Central Bank.