Report: Bank of America Economist Predicts 20% Devaluation of the Nigerian Currency in 2023

A Bank of America economist, Tatonga Rusike, has said the Nigerian currency is overvalued by as much as 20% and will likely be devalued in 2030. The remarks by the economist came just days after the currency’s exchange rate reportedly touched a new low of just under 750 naira for every U.S. dollar on the … Read more

Egyptian Pound Latest African Currency to Slump to Record Low Versus US Dollar

The Egyptian pound recently became the latest currency from the African continent to see its value versus the greenback slump to a record low. The pound’s fall came amidst reports suggesting the Egyptian government is hoping to strike a loan deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) within a month or two. Egyptian Pound Still … Read more

Forex Shortages Blamed After Nigerian Currency Hits New Low Versus the US Dollar

A surge in the demand for foreign exchange and the general scarcity of the resource may be the reasons why the naira currency recently slumped to a new all-time low of 735 versus the U.S. dollar, a report has said. One Nigerian currency dealer said he expects the naira to further depreciate to 750 per … Read more

Nigerian Central Bank Hikes Key Interest Rate Just Days After Naira Plunges to New Low

Following the latest meeting of the monetary policy committee, the Central Bank of Nigeria says it has hiked the monetary policy rate to 15.5%. By increasing the key interest rate by 150 basis points, the central bank hopes to “narrow the negative real interest rate gap and rein in inflation.” The rate increase came just … Read more

Nigerian Presidential Candidate Says Fixed Exchange Rate Regime ‘Has to End’ — Touts Success of Fintech Unicorn Flutterwave

A Nigerian presidential election candidate, Peter Obi, has said the local currency’s exchange rate against the dollar must not be fixed but must be determined “by the forces of demand and supply.” Pointing to the success of the Nigerian fintech Flutterwave, the candidate said if elected, his government will create an enabling environment for other … Read more

Nigerian BTC Peer-to-Peer Volumes Nearly $400M in H1 of 2022 — Significant Growth in Kenya and Ghana Volumes

Nigeria’s peer-to-peer bitcoin traded volumes of over $1.1 billion between January 2021 and June 2022 mean the West African nation is now Paxful’s largest market. Kenya, which saw traded volumes of over $325 million during the same period, now ranks as the crypto exchange’s second-largest African market, and fifth overall. Financial Exclusion Driving P2P Bitcoin … Read more

Binance CEO’s Warning About Wazirx Wallets, Nigerian EFCC on Naira Depreciation, O’Leary Buys the Dip — Bitcoin.com News Week in Review

Another week has passed and developments in the Binance-Wazirx controversy continue, Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) claims it has identified individuals fueling the naira’s depreciation, Shark Tank star Kevin O’Leary says crypto “desperately needs policy,” and the government of Nepal is preparing to issue its own digital currency. The weekend is here, and … Read more

Report: Nigerian Anti-Graft Body Identifies Individuals Fueling the Naira’s Rapid Depreciation

Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) recently claimed it had identified individuals and organizations whose rapid accumulation of U.S. dollars recently accelerated the depreciation of the local currency, a report said. According to Abdulrasheed Bawa, the EFCC chairman, his organization is currently going after foreign currency speculators in Kano, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Enugu, and … Read more

Nigerian Currency Recovers Versus US Dollar — Central Bank Says Importers Must Repatriate Forex Earnings

After touching a new all-time low of N710 per dollar in late July, a new report says the Nigerian currency has rebounded by as much as 10%. After initially blaming speculators, the Central Bank of Nigeria has said importers who fail to remit forex earnings may be contributing to the naira’s depreciation. Naira Depreciation Less … Read more

Speculators and Crypto Traders Blamed for Naira’s Plunge, Kenyan Institutions Told to End Dealings With Nigerian Fintechs, CAR Token Sale off to Slow Start

In this week’s Africa news highlights, the Nigerian central bank blames speculators for causing the local currency’s plunge to a new all-time low on the parallel market. In Kenya, the central bank has told financial institutions to cease having dealings with two Nigerian fintechs, Flutterwave and Chipper Cash. The Central African Republic’s token sale is … Read more