••• EFCC sets up 7,000-man Task Force in 14 Commands to track dollar racketeering

By KAMSI ANAYO

The Office of National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) have joined forces to address challenges impacting the nation's economic stability.

A statement signed by the Head, Strategic Communication

Office of the National Security Adviser, Zakari Mijinyawa, on Tuesday said the CBN's proactive measures to stabilize the foreign exchange market and stimulate economic activities have been commendable.

He, however, said the effectiveness of the initiatives was being undermined by the activities of speculators, both domestic and international, operating through various channels.

Mijinyawa said their activities were exacerbating the depreciation of the Naira and contributing to inflation and economic instability.

Recall that, to address the exchange rate volatility, the CBN initiated a comprehensive strategy to enhance liquidity in the forex market, including unifying FX market segments, clearing outstanding FX obligations, introducing new operational mechanisms for Bureau De Change operators, enforcing the Net Open Position limit for commercial banks, and adjusting the remunerable Standing Deposit Facility cap.

To reduce the pressure on the Naira, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has raised a 7,000-man special task force across its 14 zonal commands to clamp down on dollar racketeers.

Yet, recent intelligence reports have highlighted continued illicit activities within the Nigerian foreign exchange market, hence ONSA and CBN are therefore embarking on this collaborative approach to tackle these infractions.

"This partnership will involve a coordinated effort with key law enforcement agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), EFCC, the Nigeria Customs Service and the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU).

"The primary objective of this alliance is to systematically identify, thoroughly investigate and appropriately penalize individuals and organizations involved in wrongful activities within the FX market.

"By leveraging the expertise of these agencies, we aim to deter malicious practices, protect investor interests, and promote sustainable economic growth," Mijinyawa said.

According to him, this joint effort underscores the commitment of the Nigerian government to improving its Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) framework and exiting the grey list of the Financial Action Task Force.

"In addition, the efforts will make progress in ensuring a stable and transparent foreign exchange market, fostering investor confidence, and advancing the nation's economic well-being," he added.

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