The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), on Thursday, August 27, in restarting forex trade, directed licensed  Bureaux de change (BDC), operators to sell dollars to customers at a rate not higher than ₦386 to the dollar.

This order came after the Federal Government, Thursday, said despite the N2.3 trillion Economic Stimulus Plan put in place to contain the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic impact on the economy, there is the possibility that the third quarter, 2020 (Q3’20) Gross Domestic Product, GDP, growth rate will be negative, while the economy will relapse into a recession.

The CBN in a circular by its Director, Trade and Exchange Department, O. S. Nnaji, stated that the directive would take effect on Monday.

According to Nnaji, “As part of efforts to enhance accessibility to foreign exchange, particularly to travellers, following the announcement of the limited resumption of international flights by the Minister of Aviation, commencing with Abuja and Lagos, the CBN, hereby, wishes to inform the general public that gradual sales of foreign exchange to licensed BDC operators will commence with effect from August 31.

“Please, be advised that the application exchange rate for the disbursement of proceeds of IMTOs for the period, Monday, August 31, to Friday, September 4, as follows:

“IMTOs to banks N382/1USD; Banks to CBN N383/1USD; CBN to BDCs N384/1USD; BDCs to end users, not more than N386/1USD; volume of sale for each market is USD 10,000 per BDC.”