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CBN Raises Import Duty Rate To N1,618.73/USD Despite Naira Rapid Downfall
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The Central Bank of Nigeria has reviewed the cargo clearance exchange rate at both the nation’s seaports and airports to ₦1,618.73 per USD from ₦1,600.32, the highest since March 2024.
It was coming in tandem with a 6.43 per cent depreciation of the naira in July, hence it has made the adjustment most worrying, especially to importers, considering its impact on raising import costs and fueling inflation.
Recall CBN’s efforts to stabilize the naira through many sales of foreign exchange continued to show some challenges in the market. The exchange rate appreciated by ₦18 to close at ₦1,618.73 as against ₦1,600.32 recorded in the previous session. Reacting to the growing pressure on the naira, the CBN sold FX to authorized dealers and BDC operators in several intervention exercises in July. However, clearing agents say the cost of clearing containers at the ports has increased to an unbearable level due to the hike in the exchange rate, a development, according to Oladimeji Majekodunmi, that has almost eclipsed the gains of the flexible exchange rate window introduced by the CBN.
He said, “The moment CBN increases, Customs don’t have a choice than to adjust the new duty in their system. Now to clear a 40ft container of food items, it costs nothing less than ₦20 million and above. This was far below the amount we used to clear the same consignment before.” He said cargo throughput into the country has drastically dropped to about 30%, leaving the ports empty and dry.
He wanted the federal government to have a special exchange rate for the calculation of import duties, according to the National President of the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents, Lucky Amiwero.
He said it would foster economic development and positively affect the larger Nigerian populace with a consistent, very manageable exchange rate for import duties. Amiwero felt a serious misgiving over the existing dependence on floating exchange rates for the purposes of calculating customs duty. He said that is one of the major factors jacking up prices of all goods, and not just foodstuffs, selling in all markets in Nigeria. “We want to draw the attention of the Federal Government to the harrowing experiences of Nigerians, more so with the astronomical rise in the prices of items due to the floating exchange rate, which was foisted on import duty computations, many of them. This is making importation come to a near standstill, stifling transportation and throwing such staples as grains and tubers into an abominable scarcity, particularly for those who are penniless and can’t buffer their existence from financial shock.”
Amiwero canvassed programmes that would eliminate the vagaries and ambiguities associated with the current exchange rate regime. He called for a stricter framework that would help to align the domestic
The MPC of the CBN meets on February 26, where most of these issues are expected to be resolved.
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See Photos of World’s Tallest and Shortest Women Meet for Afternoon Tea in London
The world’s tallest woman and the world’s shortest woman met for the first time this week, sipping tea from china cups — and bonding over what they have in common while celebrating their differences.
Jyoti Amge, shortest woman, and Rumeysa Gelgi, tallest woman, meet for the first time and share afternoon tea
Rumeysa Gelgi, from Turkey, stands at 7 feet and 0.7 inches, while Jyoti Amge, from India, is 2 feet and 0.7 inches.
Jyoti Amge, shortest woman, and Rumeysa Gelgi, tallest woman, meet for the first time and share afternoon tea
Jyoti Amge, shortest woman, and Rumeysa Gelgi, tallest woman, meet for the first time and share afternoon tea
Jyoti Amge, shortest woman, and Rumeysa Gelgi, tallest woman, meet for the first time and share afternoon tea
“You’re so beautiful,” said Gelgi, 27. “Thank you — you too,” replied Amge, 30.
Their meeting, over afternoon tea at London’s Savoy Hotel on Tuesday, came ahead of Guinness World Records Day, which is held annually in November to mark record-breaking achievements and encourage people to attempt records. The pair have been honored as “World Record icons” in the 70th anniversary edition of the Guinness World Records book.
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“Meeting Jyoti for the first time was wonderful,” Gelgi said in a release Wednesday. “She’s the most gorgeous lady. I was waiting to meet her for a long time.”
Gelgi said the pair bonded over their love for makeup, jewelry and doing their nails.
Video footage showed them sitting down for tea, cakes and sandwiches stacked next to them, with the London Eye visible from the window.
Amge said in the release that she was “so happy to look up” and see the world’s tallest woman, whom she called “good-natured.” She added that it was difficult at times for the pair to make eye contact “due to our height difference.”
“Guinness World Records is all about celebrating differences,” its editor in chief, Craig Glenday, said in a statement ahead of Guinness World Record Day, which is on Thursday.
“By bringing together these two amazing, iconic women, they can share their perspectives on life with each other and, also, with us,” Glenday said.
Gelgi’s record-breaking height is due to a rare genetic condition called Weaver syndrome, which causes rapid growth, according to the National Organization for Rare Disorders.
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The primary symptom is growth and bone development that occurs faster than usual, making those affected taller than average. People with Weaver syndrome may have rigid muscles and difficulty extending their elbows or knees.
Gelgi used a walking aid for support during the pair’s meeting. Her case of Weaver syndrome was the 27th ever diagnosed and the first in Turkey, according to Guinness World Records.
Weaver syndrome is generally caused by changes in the EZH2 gene, according to the NORD, though the organization notes that some people with Weaver syndrome do not have a mutation in the gene.
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Amge, an actor who played the character of Ma Petite in the television series “American Horror Story,” has a genetic growth disorder that occurs in the early stages of fetal development, known as achondroplasia.
According to Johns Hopkins, the condition causes shorter bones, abnormally shaped bones and shorter stature. While the genetic defect can be passed from parent to child, in about 80 percent of cases, achondroplasia results from a spontaneous mutation that occurs in the developing embryo.
On Thursday, Gelgi shared photos on Instagram of the two exploring London despite the cold weather, posing side by side in front of Tower Bridge.
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