Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has denied the rumours suggesting that the Nigerian government is considering converting $30 billion in domiciliary deposits to naira.
In a press release issued yesterday and signed by the acting Director of the Corporate Communications Department, Hakma Sidi-Ali, the apex bank declared the report as false and suggested it was intended to induce panic in the foreign exchange market.
She called on all stakeholders to dismiss the narratives designed to instigate panic in the system and emphasized that they viewed them as acts of national sabotage.
“The attention of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has been drawn to a story published by a national newspaper alleging that the Federal Government is considering converting $30bn domiciliary deposits to Naira.
“This allegation is absolutely false and aims to trigger panic in the foreign exchange market, which the CBN is working assiduously to stabilize, as evidenced by its recent work and policy directions.
“Similar false narratives have been spread on the work of the CBN over the past few months and it is clear that vested interests are determined to sabotage our efforts.
“We want to assure the general public that CBN is working to build confidence and would never do anything to undermine the currency and the economy.
“We, therefore, urge all stakeholders to disregard stories aimed at causing panic in the system and see them clearly for what they are – acts of national sabotage.
“We wish to advise, in the strongest terms, against the peddling of false reports that have the potential to be disruptive to the economy. The Bank is the only designated authority for monetary policy changes and will always advise on any policy change(s) before they are brought into operation,” the CBN said.
Additionally, earlier this week, the bank mandated deposit money banks to offload their surplus dollar stock by February 1st.
