News

Imports: How Customs Duties Exchange Rate Hikes Influence Higher Market Prices

Published

10 months ago

February 26, 2024

By Emmanuel Agaji

Many Nigerians are currently languishing in extreme poverty and this has in turn led to reactions from all parts of the country.

Perhaps, the problem started with the withdrawal of petroleum subsidy.

The subsidy withdrawal as being feared over the years has come with pains of more transport costs which in turn led to rise in prices of goods in the market. But that was not all. The fall of Naira in value to other foreign currencies has been devastating for months now.

The fall has been with speed. Early last year, the rate of Naira to Dollar was about N700/$1. Expectations were therefore that the new government would work out a way in which the exchange rate would come down. But instead of coming down, the dollar rate has kept rising to what it is now – over N1,900/$1. Observers hold the view that the Dollar can be said to have arrived at the doorstep of N2,000/$1 and will soon begin a fresh journey to N3,000/$1. The result is that importers and manufacturers have in turn continued to increase prices of their products on the basis of dollar exchange rate to Naira.

Perhaps what has been a sad event is the rate at which there is fluctuation in the rate of dollar to Naira.

The Naira keeps falling in value everyday to the dollar and other currencies, including those of the neighbouring West African countries.

The current situation is that many citizens of other African countries who have been doing business in Nigeria are now returning to their home countries because of the fact that the Naira has fallen far below their own currencies. In other words, their currencies have become far stronger than Naira.

Critics believe the devaluation of Naira against the Dollar and other currencies will continue to affect the economic life of the people negatively.

The rise in prices of goods in the market has left many dumbfounded. To worsen the matter is the Customs duties exchange rate introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

This is the rate the Nigeria Customs Service uses in calculating duties on imports. First, it was about N1,357.50 before it rose to N1,413.62. It later went up to N1,617.00 with information later that it went down to about N1,500.00.

The rates have been introduced for more than 10 times in a month. While it is believed that with this scenario the Customs will make more revenue this year, triple what it made last year, yet such gains will have no positive impact on Nigerians.

This is because prices of goods have continued to go up. Traders have become confused because every minute importers and manufacturers come up with new prices in relation to the prevailing exchange rate. To observers, this is destroying businesses.

The policy has made international trade a big task because of the continued rising of the dollar rate against the poor value of the Naira. With almost everything being imported, including farmers relying on fertilizers and other foreign inputs, prices of food and other commodities have become so high for the low income group.

This explains the reason for the protest in many parts of the country. Everyone appears sad. This includes the importers, manufacturers who also import raw materials for production.

Dealers on different goods, wholesalers and retailers are all worried. The reason is that the goods are changing in prices every 30minutes as traders monitor the dollar rates. The final consumers are bitter as they find it difficult to pay for most of the goods they would want to buy. This has made market very dull.

Even traders in the market are no longer buying to stock-up as they are afraid these goods are too expensive and final consumers are not ready to buy. Keeping them in the store for too long means taking risk of damages and therefore losses of investment.

As experts suggest, what government should do is for the CBN to discuss with the management of the Customs Service and arrive at one exchange rate under which duties can be calculated. Although it was gathered that the CBN has agreed that the rate of duties to be paid by importers will be based on the prevailing exchange rate when the Form M was opened, importers still argue that this policy will continue to affect businesses and prices of goods in the market.

According to experts, this will not bring prices of goods down as importers will claim they sourced the foreign exchange at high rate of dollar exchange rate. An importer said if the government wants prices of goods to be affordable, CBN should rather peg the rate used in calculating duties at about N1,200 for it to be uniform for all.

Other possibilities for prices of goods to come down is for the government to consider ensuring that fuel prices go down by using the gains of the subsidy removal to encourage private refineries to come on board as quickly as possible.

These refineries should be expected to reduce their fuel prices since they source crude oil to be refined locally. Government should also not make the mistake of relying on big time monopolists who are likely to look for ways to suffocate other small companies.

This was what happened in the case of cement manufacturing over the years which prices have now gone out of the reach of the low income earners. Government should be fast in acting outside the box to arrest the issue of continued rise in the prices of goods.

The prices of food and other goods in the market should be affordable and the solution is in addressing the continued fall of Naira value to the Dollar and other currencies.

News

Photos) Obi Visits IBB, Reveals Their Discussion

Published

20 minutes ago

January 2, 2025

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

(By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, paid a visit to former military president, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), at his residence in Minna, Niger State.

In a post shared on his X account on Thursday, Obi confirmed the visit, which followed his earlier meeting with Jigawa State Governor Umar Namadi.

The discussions with IBB reportedly centered on national issues, with Obi also taking the opportunity to wish the elder statesman a happy new year.

Describing Babangida as a “father figure” and “wise man,” Obi expressed his admiration for the former leader’s insights and guidance.

He wrote:
“From Jigawa State, I traveled to Minna, Niger State to pay a visit to a father figure, elder statesman, and leader, the former military president, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, at his residence in Minna. The visit was an opportunity to wish him a happy New Year and to exchange thoughts on national issues.

“General Babangida’s wisdom and perspectives remain very important, and I always deeply appreciate the chance to visit him and listen to his invaluable advice and words of wisdom.

“A new Nigeria is POssible!”

News

After Obasanjo’s outburst NNPCL invites him to PH Refinery, Speaks on ‘Halting Crude Oil Supply to Dangote

Published

23 minutes ago

January 2, 2025

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has invited former President Olusegun Obasanjo to visit the Port Harcourt Refinery and assess its operational status firsthand.

Naijablitznews reports this is coming barely hours after the former president’s on the reactivated refineries.

Obasanjo had granted interview on Channels Television, in which he cited advice from Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) raising concerns about the refinery’s potential inefficiency.

SPDC, which had been approached for equity participation in the refinery, reportedly attributed these concerns to corruption impacting operations.

Obasanjo also accused NNPCL of misleading the public regarding the refinery’s performance.

In response, NNPCL’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, emphasized the company’s commitment to transparency and invited Obasanjo to see the progress made since the refinery’s rehabilitation.

Soneye highlighted that the rehabilitation efforts involved more than just maintenance, but a complete overhaul to meet international standards, with similar projects underway at the Warri, old Port Harcourt, and Kaduna refineries.

Soneye also noted that NNPCL’s transition from a government corporation to a private entity with limited liability has refocused the company on profitability, aiming to position it as a competitive global energy player. He reassured Nigerians of NNPCL’s dedication to sustaining operations that meet global standards and contribute to the nation’s energy security.

Addressing Obasanjo’s comments, Soneye acknowledged the former president’s role in national discussions and reaffirmed NNPCL’s commitment to a brighter future. Regarding rumors about NNPCL cutting crude oil supplies to the Dangote Refinery, Soneye dismissed the reports as false, indicating there was no need to respond to such claims.

News

Oil Prices Rise On First Trading Day Of 2025

Published

51 minutes ago

January 2, 2025

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

On Thursday, marking the inaugural trading day of 2025, global oil prices experienced a modest increase.

Brent crude futures experienced an increase, reaching $74.80 a barrel by 0547 GMT, marking a gain of 17 cents, or 0.06%

Meanwhile, U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose by 19 cents, or 0.26%, settling at $71.91 a barrel

On Tuesday, New Year’s Eve, Brent crude oil prices increased by 65 cents, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) saw a rise of 73 cents on the same day

In 2024, global oil prices experienced significant fluctuations, driven by ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and a notable decline in oil demand from China

China’s Economic Growth Fuels Optimism.

Investors are closely monitoring the expansion of China’s economy.

According to a report by Reuters, oil investors are expressing optimism regarding potential growth in China’s economy, which may lead to increased oil demand from the Asian powerhouse

This sentiment follows President Xi Jinping’s commitment to fostering growth by 2025

In his New Year’s address, the President of China committed to enacting more proactive policies aimed at stimulating economic growth in 2025

China’s factory activity experienced sluggish growth in December 2024, according to a recent survey by Caixin and S&P Global

However, there are indications of a modest recovery in the services and construction sectors, pointing to the potential impact of policy stimulus measures.

Impact of US Economic Policies

As US President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office on January 20, investors are expressing concerns about the potential effects of tariffs

Due to the New Year holiday, the Energy Information Administration has delayed the release of the weekly U.S. oil stocks data until Thursday, which investors are currently anticipating

Market analyst Tony Sycamore shared insights with Reuters, noting that the weekly chart for WTI is narrowing, suggesting that a significant price movement is on the horizon

The upcoming US ISM manufacturing release is poised to play a crucial role in determining the next direction for crude oil prices.

Instead of attempting to forecast the direction of the impending break, he suggested that it would be more prudent to observe it as it happens and then align with it.

Nigeria’s oil price assumption for the year

The administration of President Bola Tinubu has established the 2025 budget based on the expectation that global oil prices will hover around $75 per barrel.

Additionally, the government has committed to increasing oil production to exceed 2 million barrels per day

Elements influencing oil prices in 2025. We project China’s oil demand to peak in 2025. We anticipate an increase in oil prices should this occur

The Economic and Technological Research Institute (ETRI) of the China National Petroleum Corporation forecasts an increase in oil demand to around 770 million tonnes in the world’s second-largest economy by 2025. India’s Demand: If demand surges in India, the country with the highest population globally, we could witness a significant increase in oil prices. Analysts predict that India is poised to overtake China as the dominant oil market in Asia.

Trump’s commitment to the slogan “drill, baby, drill” has sparked significant discussion regarding energy policies and environmental implications. Upon taking office, President Trump has committed to an immediate increase in oil production within the United States. Experts suggest that this scenario may be unlikely, as the private sector predominantly influences the oil and gas industry in America. The impact of OPEC: Last year, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) faced challenges managing oil prices despite implementing production cuts.

We cannot yet predict the potential impact on the oil market in 2025. Analysts suggest that OPEC’s influence in the global oil market has diminished compared to its historical prominence.