International Bank For Reconstruction And Development (World Bank) have identified the Nigerian naira as being among the worst-performing currencies in the African continent.
The World Bank list other currencies with significant losses so far in 2023 in Africa which included South Sudan (33 per cent), Burundi (27 per cent), the Democratic Republic of Congo (18 per cent), Kenya (16 per cent), Zambia (12 per cent), Ghana (12 per cent), and Rwanda (11 per cent).
According to the global bank, the naira weakened by nearly 40 per cent against the United States dollar since it was devalued in June.
It made this known in its report titled, ‘Africa’s Pulse: An analysis of issues shaping Africa’s economic future (October 2023 | Volume 28).’
In June 2023, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) directed Deposit Money Banks to remove the rate cap on the naira at the official Investors and Exporters’ window of the foreign exchange market, and allow the free float of the naira against the dollar and other global currencies. Since then, the naira had fallen from N473.83/$ to around N800/$ officially.
