On Friday, August 16, 2024, the naira weakened in the parallel market, dropping to N1,590 per dollar from Thursday’s rate of N1,585.
Similarly, in the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEM), the naira fell to N1,579.89 per dollar.
According to FMDQ data, NAFEM’s indicative exchange rate climbed to N1,579.89 per dollar, up from N1,564.4 per dollar the previous day, reflecting a depreciation of N15.49.
The total dollar volume traded in the market also saw a 22.7% decline, decreasing to $115.23 million from Thursday’s $149.24 million.
As a result, the gap between the parallel market and NAFEM rates narrowed to N10.11 per dollar, compared to Thursday’s N20.52 per dollar.
Earlier this week, the naira ended its over one-week winning streak against the US dollar on the official market when it weakened in value to N1,582.09/$1 on Tuesday, August 13, 2024.
The decline happened despite the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) sale of foreign exchange to authorized dealer banks last week through the Retail Dutch Auction System (rDAS).
The CBN adopted this auction model, which dates back to the 1980s, to address the country’s increasing demand for foreign exchange.
Speaking on the recent naira crash, Uzo Nwachukwu, a forex trader, told TimesNow.com.ng that the factors working against the naira still persist.
He said:
In related news, TimesNow.com.ng earlier reported that exchange rate fluctuations, obstacles in local commerce, and weak investment are some challenges African countries face.
The development is due to currencies that perform below their intended value.
A weak currency can go beyond its direct economic consequences to undermine national pride and impact livelihoods.
Source: TimesNow.com.ng
