E-Financial
CBN Uncovers $2.4Bn False Forex Claim Pressuring Naira – Cardoso
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) uncovered invalid foreign overdue claims totalling $2.4 billion, which have pressured the naira for long and spooked the currency market, Olayemi Cardoso, governor, Central Bank, said on Monday.
Olayemi Cardoso, governor, Central Bank,
Cardoso said the discovery was made after an audit by the consultant that the Central Bank engaged brought several shady deals to light.
After seven years of being concealed from public knowledge, the audited accounts of the CBN became public last year during which auditors revealed a $7 billion backlog of unmet dollar demand from investors and currency users.
That has created an overhang in the market which, unless cleared, could keep the naira pressured, leaving the currency on a continued free fall against the dollar.
The CBN hired Deloitte to investigate the forex claims to get a true picture of things,
Cardoso said during an interview with local TV Arise, broadcast Monday morning.
The Deloitte report found that as much as $2.4 billion of the said backlog are false claims, with claimers unable to present import documents in some instances, he said
“We had had reasons to believe we needed to take a harder look at these obligations. So we contracted Deloitte management consultants to do forensics of all these obligations and to actually tell us what was valid and what was not,” Cardoso said.
“The result that came out of this was startling in a great respect. It was startling. We discovered that of the roughly $7 billion, about $2.4 billion had issues, which we believe had no business being there and the infractions on that ranged from so many things, for example not having valid import documents and in some cases, entities that do not exist.
“There were account parties who had asked for foreign exchange and got more than they asked for. There were some who didn’t even ask for any and got. So there were whole loads of infractions there,” he added.
Nigeria’s naira has been on a much-prolonged retreat, dating back to the pandemic days, against the dollar as a heap of unmet obligations to investors and exporters continues to strain the currency, which has weakened to a dross.
Naira finished 2023 as the world’s worst-performing currency, weighed down by illiquidity and commonplace speculative practices among market operators and street traders.
Currency users are having to throng the parallel market, where the exchange rate is higher but the dollar is in greater supply, to have their needs met.
President Bola Tinubu set out shortly after his inauguration last year to liberalise the foreign exchange system, which has been bogged down by an unorthodox regime that pegged the exchange rate rather than allowing the naira to trade freely and find price discovery.
The CBN collapsed the multiple naira exchange rates, adopted under the immediate past CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, into a single window as part of a slew of currency reforms that followed. It went further to initiate its first devaluation round under the current administration around mid-June.
Those market-friendly moves were aimed at courting international investors but they are hurting Nigerians at home, considering that they are adding fuel to an already elevated inflation by making imported goods and raw materials much more expensive.
In the week that just went by, naira’s official rate dived by over 36 per cent, dropping to a lower level than the street rate, after the CBN overhauled its approach to setting the rate in the official market and came hard on traders involved in misguiding the public with distorted prices.
Between the point Mr Tinubu took office and now, the naira has depreciated by approximately 68 per cent, 50 per cent in 2023 alone.
But banks also have been fingered in the speculative activities that are pressuring the naira.
Cardoso gave a tall order to banks at the end of January, ordering them to increase dollar supply to the market by ensuring their foreign exchange net open position does not exceed 20 per cent of shareholders’ funds unimpeded by losses.
Put differently, the gross amount of loans lenders can grant in foreign currency must not exceed one-fifth of their shareholders’ funds, which could force banks to make the remaining cash available to the market, a push that could boost liquidity in the system.
Cardoso said at the interview that those making invalid claims of $2.4 billion would not get anything.
“As they were identified, we wrote to the authorised dealers to come in and explain what the situation was. Sadly, quite frankly, much of those has not been disputed to our satisfaction.”
So far, the apex bank has settled requests in the neighbourhood of $2.3 billion including those from airlines operating in the country, he went further to say. That leaves the balance of the genuine arrears of dollar demand at $2.2 billion.
Cardoso assured that the remainder will be cleared very shortly.
“I think we are at the end of this, to put it that way,” he said.
Last month, Wale Edun, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, told Bloomberg the government had opened talks with the World Bank with a view to securing a lifeline of between $1 billion and $1.5 billion from the World Bank to rescue the naira.
David Malpass, former World Bank President, has warned that Nigeria’s increasing reliance on collateral-backed and complex borrowing arrangements could make any future debt restructuring more difficult and discourage investors if the country’s debt position becomes unsustainable.
David Malpass, former World Bank President
Malpass, who was 13th president of the World Bank Group, from April 9, 2019 – June 1, 2023, raised the concern in a World Bank Policy Research Working Paper titled Public Debt and Central Banks, which was based on the Stanley Fischer Memorial Lecture delivered at the World Bank Group’s Annual Bank Conference on Development Economics.
He said increasingly sophisticated collateralised transactions in developing economies, including Nigeria, Angola and Senegal, were creating what he described as “a new race toward seniority in the capital structure.”
In sovereign lending, collateralised creditors may gain priority over other lenders by tying repayment to specific assets, revenues or financial instruments. Malpass warned that the expansion of such arrangements could leave fewer resources available for unsecured creditors and make negotiations more contentious during a debt crisis.
He also questioned the growing use of guarantee products provided by multilateral development banks, arguing that their effectiveness had not been adequately tested during sovereign debt restructurings.
According to him, private lending to distressed or high-risk governments has become less transparent, with some commercial agreements containing non-disclosure clauses that prevent citizens, investors and other creditors from understanding their full implications.
Malpass said debt reconciliation efforts were already being hindered by limited access to sovereign loan contracts, particularly agreements linked to Chinese lending programmes.
The former World Bank chief also criticised the international debt restructuring system, arguing that existing mechanisms had failed to provide timely and meaningful relief to heavily indebted countries.
Beyond debt transparency, Malpass identified exchange rate stability as an important requirement for Nigeria’s economic growth.
He grouped Nigeria with Ethiopia and Egypt among countries where multiple exchange rates and poorly managed currency systems had transferred wealth from low-income earners to politically or economically privileged groups.
He estimated Nigeria’s per capita income at about $1,500, or roughly $4 a day, while noting that median income was likely to be considerably lower because wealth remained concentrated among a small proportion of the population.
Malpass argued that the benefits of credible currency reform could be substantial, pointing to the significantly higher earnings of Nigerians working abroad as evidence of the country’s unrealised productive potential.
He disclosed that, while serving as World Bank president, he held several meetings with Nigeria’s previous administration, cabinet officials and the bank’s Nigeria team to identify reforms capable of accelerating economic growth.
Those discussions highlighted currency stabilisation, exchange rate unification, oil sector reforms, tax changes and agricultural liberalisation, particularly in rice production, as priorities.
Malpass said the reforms could transform Nigeria’s economy in a manner comparable to the policy changes that helped launch China’s sustained period of rapid growth in the 1990s.
Malpass’ warning comes amid continuing scrutiny of Nigeria’s use of unconventional financing to refinance expensive obligations and cover budget deficits.
The International Monetary Fund and Fitch Ratings had earlier raised concerns about the Federal Government’s proposed $5 billion Total Return Swap with First Abu Dhabi Bank, warning that derivatives-based sovereign borrowing could obscure the country’s true debt exposure and complicate future restructuring.
Despite those concerns, Nigeria reportedly accessed an initial tranche of about $1.5 billion from the arrangement.
The controversy follows years of debate over the transparency of Nigeria’s borrowing, including loans linked to crude oil revenues, infrastructure assets and bilateral agreements whose full terms were not always publicly disclosed. With debt-service costs consuming a substantial share of government revenue, the latest warning reinforces concerns that short-term financing relief could create more difficult obligations for future administrations.
Ecobank Nigeria has launched Scaling Up!!!, its flagship business storytelling podcast designed to inspire, educate and empower entrepreneurs, founders, business leaders and the next generation of African innovators through authentic conversations with some of the continent’s most accomplished business personalities.
The podcast, which will be available on Ecobank Nigeria’s official YouTube channel and other major digital streaming platforms, reinforces the bank’s commitment to supporting businesses beyond banking by creating a platform where entrepreneurs can learn from the experiences of successful founders, creatives and industry leaders who have built thriving enterprises across diverse sectors.
Featuring compelling conversations on entrepreneurship, leadership, innovation, resilience and business growth, Scaling Up!!! offers practical lessons and real-life insights that aspiring and established entrepreneurs can apply in building sustainable businesses.
The inaugural season features an impressive lineup of distinguished guests, including beauty entrepreneur and Founder/CEO of Beauty by AD, Adeola Adeyemi (Diiadem); renowned filmmaker and Founder of Golden Effects Pictures, Kunle Afolayan; veteran music producer and Founder of Coded Tunes, ID Cabasa; luxury fashion entrepreneur, Ejiro Amos Tafiri; celebrated commercial photographer, Emmanuel Oyeleke; Co-founder and Lead Interior Designer of Siriano Limited, Adewunmi Adegbola; and Founder of Windsor Gallery and Nahous Creative Hub, Richard Vedelago.
Each episode explores the guests’ entrepreneurial journeys, highlighting the opportunities they embraced, the challenges they overcame and the strategies that enabled them to build enduring brands and successful businesses.
Speaking on the launch, Austen Osokpor, Head, Marketing & Corporate Communications, Ecobank Nigeria, said: “Scaling Up!!! reflects Ecobank’s belief that empowering entrepreneurs goes beyond providing financial solutions.
“Through authentic storytelling and insightful conversations, we are creating a platform where business owners can learn directly from people who have successfully navigated the realities of building sustainable enterprises. It is another way we are reinforcing our commitment to driving entrepreneurship, innovation and economic growth across Africa.”
Also speaking, Head, SMEs, Partnerships & Collaborations, Ecobank Nigeria, Omoboye Odu, said: “Entrepreneurs learn best from the experiences of those who have walked the journey before them. Scaling Up!!! provides practical insights, inspiration and valuable lessons that will help founders make better business decisions, overcome challenges and unlock new opportunities for growth.
“The podcast further strengthens Ecobank’s role as a trusted partner supporting SMEs at every stage of their entrepreneurial journey.”
Sharing the creative vision behind the initiative, the Producer of Scaling Up!!!, Jemimah Ugiagbe, said: “Our goal was to create more than just another business podcast. We wanted honest, engaging and relatable conversations that reveal the realities behind success, the setbacks, the resilience, the bold decisions, and the lessons that every entrepreneur can learn from.
“Every episode is designed to leave listeners informed, inspired and motivated to build businesses that create lasting impact.”
The podcast further strengthens Ecobank Nigeria’s position as a trusted partner for entrepreneurs by providing a knowledge-sharing platform that extends beyond traditional banking services. GeographicReference
Through meaningful conversations with accomplished founders and innovators, the bank continues to demonstrate its commitment to fostering enterprise development, encouraging innovation and promoting sustainable economic growth across Africa.
Scaling Up!!! is targeted at SMEs, entrepreneurs, founders, startups, business executives, creatives, students and young professionals seeking practical business insights from some of Africa’s most respected industry leaders.
New episodes will be released regularly across Ecobank Nigeria’s YouTube channel and other major podcast streaming platforms, offering audiences thought-provoking conversations on entrepreneurship, leadership, innovation and business growth.
Ecobank Nigeria is a member of the Ecobank Group, the leading pan-African banking institution with operations in 33 African countries and international offices in London, Paris, Beijing, and Dubai.
With over 220 branches, more than 36,000 agency banking locations, and robust digital platforms, Ecobank delivers accessible, affordable, and instant banking services. The bank is strategically positioned to support pan-African trade, particularly under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
S&P Global has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Agusto & Co., one of Africa’s oldest and largest domestic credit rating agencies, in a move that signals growing international interest in the continent’s capital markets and credit ecosystem.
According to a joint statement by the rating agencies. The transaction, which is subject to regulatory approvals, will give the global ratings giant a stronger foothold in Africa through Agusto & Co.’s operations in Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, and Rwanda. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The acquisition marks one of the most significant investments by a global ratings agency in Africa’s domestic credit ratings market in recent years and comes as governments and companies across the continent increasingly rely on local debt markets to finance infrastructure, corporate expansion, and fiscal deficits.
Yann Le Pallec, president of S&P Global Ratings, said the investment reflects the company’s long-term commitment to Africa’s financial markets.
“We are delighted to partner with Agusto & Co. to strengthen our domestic ratings presence across Africa,” Le Pallec said. “This transaction underscores our commitment to supporting growth and transparency in local credit markets throughout the continent.”
He added that combining S&P Global’s international analytical capabilities with Agusto & Co.’s local market knowledge would help improve credit transparency and support investor confidence across African markets.
Founded more than three decades ago, Agusto & Co. has built a reputation as one of Africa’s leading domestic rating agencies, providing credit ratings on banks, corporates, and other institutions. The company has expanded beyond Nigeria into several African markets and has played a key role in the development of domestic bond markets.
For Agusto & Co., the transaction represents a major milestone in its growth strategy and fulfills a long-held ambition to align with a global ratings institution.
“This partnership is a transformational milestone for Agusto & Co. and African capital markets, fulfilling our late founder’s vision of affiliating with a leading global rating agency,” said Yinka Adelekan, managing director of Agusto & Co.
According to Adelekan, the combination of Agusto’s regional expertise with S&P Global’s international resources and analytical network is expected to create broader opportunities for issuers and investors while supporting more transparent and resilient credit markets across Africa.
Despite the ownership change, Agusto & Co. said it will continue operating as an independent domestic ratings agency, maintaining its own rating methodologies and issuing ratings under applicable regulatory frameworks.
That structure is expected to preserve the agency’s regulatory standing in the jurisdictions where it operates while enabling it to benefit from S&P Global’s technology, research capabilities, and global market expertise.
The acquisition also reflects increasing global interest in Africa’s capital markets, where governments are pursuing domestic borrowing strategies and private companies are seeking alternative sources of long-term financing amid tighter global liquidity conditions.
The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. S&P Global said the acquisition is not expected to have a material impact on its financial results.
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