Controversy as FG Directs CBN to Sell Dollars to Hajj Pilgrims for N197

A disaffection with a religious and business outlook is currently trailing Federal Government unconventional decision to sell foreign exchange to Hajj Islamic pilgrims at a highly reduced rate.

 

Nigerians have expressed mixed reactions to the Federal Government's special directive of reducing the cost of foreign exchange by almost 40%.

The Central Bank of Nigeria has issued a circular instructing commercial banks to sell dollars to Pilgrims going to the Hajj at an exchange rate of N197 thereby attracting concerns from religious groups as well as business personnel who have toiled in futility to secure foreign exchange from the apex bank and black market at cut-throat prices.


The Central Bank explains that the sale of the forex will be funneled through commercial banks who are then mandated to sell to pilgrims at N197. Pilgrims are expected to purchase a minimum of $750 and a maximum of $1000 per pilgrim, according to the Vanguard.


The circular also reveals there are a total of 65,197 Pilgrims, thus the CBN will sell as much as $65,197,000 assuming every Pilgrim buys as much as $1000 each.


Nigeria’s official exchange rate closed at about N315 which suggest that this sale could cost Nigerian tax payers about N7, 693, 246,000 in exchange rate loss (based on 315 -197=118).


This is not the first time the Central Bank is selling dollars to Pilgrims at a subsidized rate. Last August it also sold dollars at N160 at a time when the official exchange rate was about N197. Only that this time, the disparity is wider.


The implication for Nigerian tax payers is that the government is now incurring this sort of expense at a time when the economy is likely in a recession and millions are finding it hard to feed themselves. It is also at a time where the Nigerian government is running cap in hand begging foreign investors to invest in Nigeria so that we can boost our external reserves.


It also calls to question suspicions that government officials may be getting travel allowances at a different exchange rate from what is obtainable at the official interbank market.


There are concerns that their Christian counterparts maybe in the future seek for such preferential treatment which may have a negative effect on the Nigerian economy.