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Naira redesign may hamper economic activities – World Bank
The World Bank has raised alarm over the economic impact on on businesses and households as a result of the redesign of new naira notes.
In a report, titled ‘Nigeria Development Update December 2022 – Nigeria’s Choice’, Nigeria’s economic performance has weakened since the previous report was published in June 2022 under the title of “The Continuing Urgency of Business Unusual”.
“At present, households and firms already face elevated financial pressures from prolonged, high inflation, recently compounded by external food and fuel price shocks, and the severe floods, and phasing out existing naira notes over a short time period may add to their challenges,” the report states.
According to the report, the World Bank notes that the timing and short transition period of the Nigerian naira redesign may weigh on economic activity.
“The CBN announced on October 26, 2022, that it planned to redesign, produce, and circulate new series of Nigerian naira (N) 200, 500 and 1,000 notes, equivalent to roughly US$0.5, US$1, and US$2 at the official rate.
“The three notes are the highest denominations out of the eight legal tender notes in Nigeria. Following the launch of the new designs on November 23, 2022, the new currency notes are to be circulated from December 15, 2022, with both the new and existing notes considered legal tender until January 31, 2023.
“Thereafter, only the new notes will be legal tender. Bank charges on cash deposits have been suspended to facilitate the transition,” the institution said.
The report states that the timing and short transition period for the demonetization may have negative impacts on economic activity, in particular for the poorest households.
“International experience suggests that rapid demonetizations can generate significant short-term costs, with small-scale businesses, and poor and vulnerable households, potentially being particularly affected due to being liquidity-constrained and heavily reliant on day-to-day cash transactions,”.
It adds that economic activity in most major economies had slowed down in 2022 amid high inflation and central banks shifting towards contractionary monetary policies.
Benson Upah, spokesperson for the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has cautioned that Nigerians might eventually face petrol prices of N5,000 per litre.
In an interview with Weekend Trust, Upah criticized the recent increase in fuel pump prices and argued that it contradicts the agreement previously made between the NLC and President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
He asserted that the Federal Government’s claims of restoring the fuel subsidy are untrue.
Upah remarked, “The subsidy was never reinstated as they have stated. So, what justifies the rise in pump prices from N650 to N1,500 or even N2,000?
“This situation suggests that we might not have seen the worst yet. There is a possibility that fuel prices could reach N5,000 per litre. We hope it doesn’t come to that, but if it does, it will be up to Nigerians to make the decision.”
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has announced the receipt of a two million Naira bank draft from Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, a former student loan beneficiary.
This information was disclosed in a statement by Monalisa Dike from the Corporate Communications Department of NELFUND on Friday in Abuja.
Dike noted that Awomolo had received the loan during his undergraduate studies at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) from 1975 to 1977.
She mentioned that Awomolo had fully repaid the loan, showing his strong commitment to the country.
“The original loan amount was N1,000 for two academic sessions, which played a crucial role in his completion of the law degree.
“Although Awomolo had attempted to repay the loan several times over the years, he was only able to settle it now.
“In his letter to NELFUND’s Managing Director, Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr, Awomolo expressed his appreciation for the student loan opportunity provided by the Nigerian government,” Dike said.
She added that Awomolo praised the transparency and accountability NELFUND has shown in managing student loans.
Dike emphasized that Awomolo’s repayment highlights the enduring impact of President Bola Tinubu’s initiative and NELFUND’s continued importance in supporting Nigerian students.
She also mentioned that the repaid funds will be used to support the education of current students in need of loans.
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has issued a warning to the public about scammers pretending to represent the NDDC Youth Internship Scheme.
The NDDC also noted that registration for the scheme ended on August 31, 2024.
This information was released in a statement on Friday by Seledi Thompson-Wakama, Director of Corporate Affairs at the commission, and shared with DAILY POST.
The statement reads, in part: “We have received reports of individuals receiving unsolicited messages claiming they have been selected for the NDDC Internship Scheme, which includes requests for personal information and an acceptance fee.
“The NDDC does not charge any fees for placing qualified youths in its internship programme. We want to make it clear that these fraudulent selection messages are not affiliated with the NDDC.
“Any official communication from us will only come through our verified websites and social media channels. If you receive a message like this, please ignore it and report it to the relevant authorities. Your safety and privacy are our top priorities.
“For genuine inquiries about our empowerment programs, please contact us directly through our official channels.”
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