BDCs ask to be included in Yuan disbursements

The Association of Bureaux De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON) on Saturday urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to approve the Renminbi (Yuan) disbursements to its members, to deepen the China-Nigeria swap deal.

Aminu Gwadabe, ABCON president, told NAN in Lagos that the approval would enable BDCs to sell personal and business travelling allowances to its customers in Yuan.

According to him, the sale of BTAs and PTAs to China-bound businessmen will make them get used to the authentic features of the Yuan, to avoid being issued fake currencies for transactions.

The ABCON chief applauded the CBN for taking proactive measures in prosecuting the deal and the stability of the Naira at the nation’s foreign exchange market.

Gwadabe noted that the swap deal and its full implementation would continue to shore up the value of the naira as pressures hitherto put on it by the dollar would be reduced.

CBN sealed about N720 billion deal with the Peoples Bank of China in a move that would facilitate trade between both countries and maintain financial market stability, among others.

The CBN noted that the 41 items earlier banned on June 23, 2015, remained banned under the new deal.

The apex bank also disclosed at the end of the Bankers Committee Meeting that it would give incentives to Nigerians who import goods from China.

The committee agreed that importers of Chinese goods would be encouraged to bring invoices in Renminbi.

Since the Chinese Yuan joined the International Monetary Fund (IMF) basket of currencies in 2016, it was fast gaining recognition by both the European and African Central Banks to be used in their foreign reserves.