Economy

CBN restricts Dollar from BDC to $10k for school fees, $5k for medicare

Published

9 months ago

February 27, 2024

The Central Bank of Nigeria has placed limits on the foreign exchange sales by Bureau De Change (BDC) operators in a new document titled: “Revised Regulatory and Supervisory Guidelines for Bureau De Change Operations in Nigeria”.

The circular with Ref: FPR/DIR/PUB/CIR/002/006 dated February 23, 2024 and titled: “Revised Regulatory and Supervisory Guidelines for Bureau De Change Operations in Nigeria – Exposure Draft,” was signed by the Director, Financial Policy and Regulation Department, Mr Haruna B. Mustafa.

In the reversed regulatory guidelines, CBN stated that BDCs may sell foreign currency in the equivalent of $4,000 and $5,000 for personal travel allowance (PTA) or business travel allowance (BTA), respectively, to an individual once every six months.

According to the Bankers’ bank the sale of foreign currencies to the intending travellers would have to be accompanied with their bank verification number (BVN) or tax identification number (TIN), duly completed e-form, valid international passport, valid visa, as well as valid international return ticket.

In addition, for BTA, the apex bank said letter of request from the corporate body stating the purpose of the visit addressed to the processing BDC, as well as certificate of the business registration or incorporation, must be submitted by customers.

Also, the CBN mandated that letter of invitation from the customer’s overseas business partner and tax clearance certificate, be presented by the customers.

“The amount of foreign currency sold and date of sale shall be endorsed on the passport. A photocopy of the documents, forex endorsement page and sales receipt shall be filed in a sequential order by the BDC,” CBN said.

CBN also said BDCs may sell foreign currency up to the equivalent of $5,000 to a customer for medical bills once a year.

Such bill, CBN said, shall be transferred from the BDC’s domiciliary account with a Nigerian bank.

“It shall be paid directly to the hospital and supported by valid visa, duly completed e-Form A, letter of reference from a specialist doctor, or a specialist hospital in Nigeria, and valid international passport,” the apex bank said.

Other necessary documents listed by the financial regulator include valid air ticket, and letter issued by the overseas specialist doctor stating the cost of treatment.

According to the apex bank, BDCs may sell foreign currency up to the equivalent of $10,000 to a customer for school fees once a year.

“Such fee, which shall be transferred from the BDC’s domiciliary account with a Nigerian bank, shall be paid directly to the school and supported by the following documents: duly completed e-Form A, evidence of admission/course programme, valid air ticket, and letter issued by the overseas specialist doctor stating the cost of treatment, and school bill/invoice,” CBN said.

“For post-graduate studies, photocopy of first degree certificate or its equivalent/certified true copy of statement of result by the awarding institution.

“The CBN may review the amounts and frequencies for sale of foreign exchange from time to time.”

A beneficiary of foreign currency sale may receive up to 25 percent of the foreign currency in cash, according to the CBN, and the remaining 75 percent shall be transferred to the customer electronically (to the customer’s Nigerian domiciliary account or prepaid travel card).

CBN, However, noted that the guidelines significantly enhances the regulatory framework for the operations of Bureau De Change as part of ongoing reforms of the Nigerian foreign exchange market.

The letter partly read: “Pursuant to the powers conferred under Section 56 of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act, 2020 (BOFIA), the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) hereby issues this draft revised Regulatory and Supervisory Guidelines for Bureau de Change (BDC) Operations in Nigeria for stakeholder comments and/or inputs.

“The Guidelines significantly enhances the regulatory framework for the operations of Bureau De Change as part of ongoing reforms of the Nigerian foreign exchange market. The Guidelines revises the permissible activities, licensing requirements, corporate governance, and Anti-Money Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) provisions for BDCs.

“It also sets out new record-keeping and reporting requirements, among others,” the circular indicated. It advised that every comments should be directed to the Director, Financial Policy and Regulation Department Central Bank of Nigeria, Abuja with soft copies mailed to [email protected] by March 4, 2024.

In the draft reversed guidelines, the apex bank stated that “No person shall carry on the business of BDC in Nigeria except with the prior authorization of the CBN.”

It defined a BDC as a company licensed by the CBN to carry on only retail foreign exchange business in Nigeria.

On non-eligible promoters, the CBN listed categories of people and organisations that shall not be allowed to participate in the ownership of BDCs, directly or indirectly among whom are:

“Commercial, merchant, non-interest and payment service banks; Other Financial Institutions (OFIs), including holding companies and payment service providers and Serving staff of financial services regulatory and supervisory agencies.

“Serving staff of regulated financial services providers; Governments at all levels; Public officers as defined in 5th Schedule Part IV of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Non Governmental organizations; Cooperative societies; Charitable organizations; Academic and religious institutions; Non-Nigerian non-resident natural persons; Non-Nigerian resident natural persons and Non-resident non-regulated companies.

“Telecommunication services providers; Sanctioned individuals and entities; A shareholder in another BDC (whether directly or indirectly); Any other entity that the CBN may from time to time designate.”

Under Permissible Activities; the apex bank stated that a BDC may: “Acquire foreign currency from the sources listed in Section 4.0; Sell foreign exchange as detailed in Section 5.0; Open foreign currency and naira accounts with Commercial or Non-Interest Banks (CNIBs); Collaborate with their banks to issue prepaid cards. And Serve as cash-out points for International Money Transfer Operators (IMTOs).”

On the Non-Permissible Activities, the CBN stated that a BDC or its franchisee shall not engage in –

“Street-trading; Maintaining any type of account for any member of the public, including accepting any asset for safe keeping/custody.

“Taking deposits from or granting loans to members of the public in any currency and in any form; International outward transfers; Retail sale of foreign currencies to non-individuals, except for BTA

“Engaging in off-shore business or maintaining foreign correspondent relationship with any foreign establishment. Opening or maintaining any account with any bank or financial institution outside

Nigeria. Acting as custodian of foreign currency on behalf of customers.

“International inward transfers, except for operators that serve as cash-out points for IMTOs. Borrowing sums which in aggregate exceed the equivalent of 30 per cent of its shareholders’ funds unimpaired by losses, in the BDC’s audited financial statements of the preceding year.

“Engaging in forwards, futures, options, or other derivative/speculative transactions. Obtaining foreign exchange from sources other than those listed in Section 4.0. Granting of loans and advances in any currency. Selling foreign exchange on credit to any customer. Engaging in any trade-related import activities.

“Serving as payment or collection agents on behalf of customers. Dealing in gold or other precious metals. Carrying on capital market, insurance and/or pension sector activities. Establishing subsidiaries.

Any foreign exchange transaction that involves illicit financial flows.

“Financing of political activities. All other businesses not expressly permitted by this Guidelines. Any other activity as may from time to time be termed “non-permissible” by the CBN.

On the Sources of Foreign Currencies; the apex bank listed the following as conditions that shall apply for the sourcing of foreign currencies by BDCs:

“i. A BDC may source foreign currency from: a. Tourists. b. Returnees from the diaspora. c. Expatriates with foreign exchange inflows from work, travel, investment or their domiciliary accounts.

“d. Residents with foreign exchange inflows from work, travel, investment or their domiciliary accounts. e. International Money Transfer Operators (IMTOs),

f. Embassies. g. Hotels that are authorised buyers of foreign currencies. h. The Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM). i. Any other source that the CBN may specify.”

“ii. Sellers of the equivalent of USD10,000 and above to a BDC are required to declare the source of the foreign exchange and comply with all AML/CFT/CPF regulations and foreign exchange laws and regulations.”

Economy

FG services foreign debt with $3.5bn

Published

4 days ago

November 13, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Federal Government spent $3.58 billion servicing its foreign debt in the first nine months of 2024, representing a 39.77 per cent increase from the $2.56bn spent during the same period in 2023.

This is according to data from the Central Bank of Nigeria on international payment statistics.

The significant rise in external debt service payments shows the mounting pressure on Nigeria’s fiscal balance amid ongoing economic challenges.

Data from CBN’s international payment statistics reveal that the highest monthly debt servicing payment in 2024 occurred in May, amounting to $854.37m.

In comparison, the highest monthly expenditure in 2023 was $641.70m, recorded in July. The sharp contrast in May’s figures between the two years ($854.37m in 2024 versus $221.05m in 2023) highlights the rising cost of debt obligations, as Nigeria battles massive devaluation of the naira.

The CBN showed significant month-on-month changes in debt servicing costs, with some months recording sharp increases compared to the previous year. A breakdown of the data revealed varied trends across the nine months.

In January 2024, debt servicing costs surged by 398.89 per cent, rising to $560.52m from $112.35m in January 2023. February, however, saw a slight decline of 1.84 per cent, with payments reducing from $288.54m in 2023 to $283.22m in 2024.

March recorded a 31.04 per cent drop in payments, falling to $276.17m from $400.47m in the same period last year. April saw a significant rise of 131.77 per cent, with $215.20m paid in 2024 compared to $92.85m in 2023.

The highest debt servicing payment occurred in May 2024, when $854.37m was spent, reflecting a 286.52 per cent increase compared to $221.05m in May 2023. June, on the other hand, saw a 6.51 per cent decline, with $50.82m paid in 2024, down from $54.36m in 2023.

July 2024 recorded a 15.48 per cent reduction, with payments dropping to $542.50m from $641.70m in July 2023. In August, there was another decline of 9.69 per cent, as $279.95m was paid compared to $309.96m in 2023. However, September 2024 saw a 17.49 per cent increase, with payments rising to $515.81m from $439.06m in the same month last year.

The data raises concerns about the growing pressure of Nigeria’s foreign debt obligations, with rising global interest rates and exchange rate fluctuations contributing to higher costs.

The global credit ratings agency, Fitch, recently projected Nigeria’s external debt servicing will rise to $5.2bn next year.

This is despite the current administration’s insistence on focusing more on domestic borrowings from the capital market.

It also estimated that approximately 30 per cent of Nigeria’s external reserves are constituted by foreign exchange bank swaps.

Regarding external debt, the agency said external financing obligation