The move, according to a letter posted on the apex bank's website on Friday, sought to limit the amount of the greenback available to dealers and Bureau De Change (BDC) Operators.

Specifically, the letter said authorised dealers were only allowed a maximum of $250,000 to BDCs per week, adding that a BDC is allowed to purchase only from one authorised dealer per week. It however, warned that any dealer that contravenes the policy will be duly sanctioned.

The letter titled: “Re: Foreign Exchange Cash Sales to Bureaux De Change (BDCs) by Banks to all Dealers and BDC operators,” signed by CBN Director, Trade and Exchange Department, Mr. Batari Musa, also said that the move also to ensure compliance with the Anti-money Laundering Act.


It read: “Further to the operations of Sections 4.1.1 (iii) of the Monetary, Credit, Foreign Trade and Exchange Policy Guidelines for Fiscal year 2010,2011, which allow authorised dealers to sell autonomous funds to BDCs subject to compliance with the Anti-Money Laundering Act 2004, all authorised dealers and BDC Operators are to note the following amendment for compliance: “Authorised Dealers are only allowed a maximum of $250,000 (Two hundred and fifty thousand US dollars) to BDCs per week and a BDC is allowed to purchase only from one Authorised Dealer per week. This amendment takes effect from the date of this circular. Authorised dealers and BDC operators are thereby enjoined to ensure compliance as any contravention shall be sanctioned appropriately” The CBN-regulated Wholesale Dutch Auction System (WDAS) has witnessed a persistent high demand for the greenback , which has always depressed the value of the local currency.

Earlier, the banking sector regulator had released the guidelines for trading on foreign exchange forwards auctions and foreign exchange derivatives that stipulates that authorised dealers must confirm the existence of trade transactions before bidding for forwards and derivatives as part of efforts to address speculative trading at the forex market.

The CBN had said the introduction of forwards and derivatives were in line with its objectives of enhancing efficiency in the foreign exchange market and deepening trading liquidity and risk management in the Nigerian foreign exchange market.