ABUJA – The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has noted some misreporting that
falsely implies the Bank disbursed US$1.259 billion to major oil sector operators for
the importation of refined petroleum products and related items. Such reporting is
entirely inaccurate and misleading.
The Bank noted that the referenced figure of US$1.259 billion, as published in the
CBN’s Q1 2025 Sectoral Utilisation of Foreign Exchange data, does not represent
CBN disbursements. It said the figure reflects total foreign exchange transactions
conducted by participants in the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM) across
various sectors — including oil and gas — under the willing buyer, willing seller
framework.
According to the Bank’s spokesperson, Mrs. Hakama Sidi Ali, “Since the unification
of exchange rates in 2023, the NFEM has operated as a market-driven system,
where foreign exchange is sourced and supplied by market participants, not
allocated by the CBN. Accordingly, the Bank has not sold foreign exchange
specifically for the importation of refined petroleum nor any other products.”
She explained that the data cited in the report merely captures aggregate utilisation
by authorised dealers and end-users who independently sourced foreign exchange
through the market, in full compliance with existing regulations. She stressed that
these are legitimate market transactions, not instances of direct CBN intervention in
the oil sector.
The spokesperson assured that the CBN remains committed to a transparent,
market-based foreign exchange regime that promotes efficient price discovery,
supports economic stability, and ensures confidence in Nigeria’s financial system.
