Zimbabwe Plans to ‘Float’ Rapidly Depreciating Gold-Backed Currency

Zimbabwe has said it plans to let its rapidly depreciating gold-backed currency, Zig, float freely on the foreign exchange market. A central bank official said this would help the currency achieve price discovery without administrative interference. However, the official did not give a timeline for when the central bank intends to implement this policy. Since … Read more

World Bank: Nigeria Loses $8B on Foreign Exchange Subsidies Over 3 Years

The World Bank reports that Nigeria lost over $8 billion due to the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) refusal to float the naira between 2021 and 2023. This foreign exchange subsidy, along with the fuel subsidy, deprived the government of revenue. The World Bank acknowledges the suffering caused by the government’s policies but insists they … Read more

Nigerian Currency ‘Most Competitive in 20 Years,’ Says World Bank

Nigeria’s currency reforms under Bola Tinubu’s government have made the naira one of the most competitive in 20 years, according to World Bank chief economist Indermit Gill. The decision to float the naira and remove fuel subsidies helped prevent fiscal collapse. While the naira’s devaluation has exacerbated poverty and raised concerns about civil unrest but … Read more

Nigeria Injects $543.5M to Shore up Naira

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) injected $543.5 million into the Nigerian foreign exchange market between September 6th and 30th to address currency volatility. The bank attributed the volatility to high demand for imports and seasonal factors. Nigeria is facing foreign exchange shortages and the government has taken various steps to counter it, including restricting … Read more