Importers have
described the discriminating exchange rate of N197 to a dollar recently
introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, for pilgrims as against N313
for the business community as a fraud by some persons in government to get
funds out of the
country.
In an exclusive shat with Vanguard, Okechuku
Eze-Ifeoma, Vice President Association of Nigeria Tyre Marketers, ANTM, noted
that though he is not aware of the new directive, if it is true; then there is
something fundamentally wrong with those managing the nation’s economy.
According to Eze-Ifeoma whose association is involved in importation and sale
of brand new tyres, “It is fraud, pure fraud. Somebody somewhere is using it to
pull out money because if they have this dollar to give out at N190-N197 why
are they suffering Nigerians.
“In the name of Hajj or pilgrimage they are now
giving dollar at N190-N197 and some of us that are businessmen at getting our
own at N400, how can you reconcile it? “If you go back and do your survey very
well, the amount that will be pulled out at this rate that you are telling me
because I am yet to confirm I am very sure it is pure fraud if it is true.
“Where are they getting the money from, so they have the money and they kept it
somewhere? I do not know why they should do a thing like that because it does
not make economic sense.
Also, National President of the Association of Nigeria
Licensed Customs Agents, ANLCA, Olayiwola Shitzu, wondered why there should be
discriminatory forex policy for religious and business purposes in favour of
the former.
Shittu noted that the business community should be getting
concessionary benefits instead of those embarking on religious trips that would
not add anything to the economy.
According to him, “my take on this is that the
discriminatory allocation should have favoured the importing public because a
lot of goods are littered in the port because the people cannot pay.
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