CBN Selects Technical Partner for Digital Currency Project
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced the formal engagement of the global Fintech Company, Bitt Inc., as the Technical Partner for its digital currency, named eNaira, which is due to be unveiled later in the year. The Governor of the Central Bank, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, disclosed this development in Abuja listing the benefits of the Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) to include increased cross-border trade, accelerated financial inclusion, cheaper and faster remittance inflows, easier targeted social interventions, as well as improvements in monetary policy effectiveness, payment systems efficiency, and tax collection.
Nigeria Ranked 17th in Africa Based on Per Capita GDP
Nigeria, the ‘giant of Africa’ and the most populous country in Africa with over 200 million people residing in the country according to World Bank estimates, boasts of being the largest economy on the continent with an aggregate GDP of $468.6 billion. Nigeria’s GDP per capita stood at $2,097.09 in 2020 to rank 17th on the list of African countries, representing a 6% decline compared to $2,229.86 recorded in the previous year.
A Look at Nigeria’s External Reserve
Nigeria’s foreign reserve rose by $85 million as it recorded its fifth increase in over 2 weeks to close at $34.018 billion on Tuesday, 31th August 2021, compared to $33.933 billion recorded the previous day. The latest increase represents a 0.25% boost in the country’s foreign reserve. In the same vein, the reserve level has also gained $615 million month-to-date compared to $33.403 billion recorded as at the beginning of August.
Treasury Bills
The Nigerian Treasury Bills (“NT-Bills”) secondary market traded on a bearish note throughout last week, as market participants exited positions across the curve given the subdued liquidity levels (sinking to N201.1bn negative on Tuesday) and ahead of Wednesday’s Primary Market Auction (“PMA”). Consequent on this, average yields on secondary market NT-Bills expanded 27bps W-o-W to 4.95% – with the 28-Apr-22 (+83bps W-o-W) and 12-May-22 (+89bps W-o-W) bills advancing the most – and closed the week on a quiet note with minimal trading activities post-PMA.
FGN Bonds
Last week, the FGN Bond secondary market maintained its bullish run, fuelled by a sustained flow of lost primary market bids. As a result, average yields across all maturities dipped 23bps W-o-W (Week-On-Week) to 11.15% from 11.38% the previous week. While demand was recorded across the curve, short-term FGN Bonds enjoyed the most demand, inching 32bps southwards W-o-W, particularly on the MAR- 25 and JAN-26 maturities that dipped the most by 47bps and 48bps W-o-W respectively.
FX Market
Naira extended losses against the U.S. dollar at the parallel market on Thursday as the currency exchanged hands with the greenback at N530 per $1. This translates to a N2.00 or 0.40 per cent devaluation from N528.00 rate recorded in the previous session on Wednesday. Similarly, the naira weakened further against the U.S. dollar at the official market as foreign exchange supply plummeted significantly.
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