Liquidity challenges in Abuja and environs will ease further as Travelex and First Bank begin the sale of Forex to Bureau de change operators in the north.

According to CEOAFRICA’S source, Premium times, Aminu Gwadabe, President, Association of Bureau De Change Operators of Nigeria, ABCON, disclosed during an interview in Lagos on wednesday.

Mr. Gwadabe said that the CBN brokered a meeting between Travelex and ABCON which led to the commencement of the sale of Forex in Abuja, Kano and by extension, Port Harcourt and that First Bank Nigeria PLC and Travelex had been directed by the apex bank to sell Forex to BDCs in Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt.

Moreover, the BDCS in Abuja got $20,000 each from the sale of Forex by First Bank on Tuesday, adding that Abuja environs would also benefit from the sale. The ABCON chief noted that BDCs in Abuja and its environs were expected to begin documentation and biometric registration, with Travelex on Thursday.

Mr. Gwadabe commended the CBN for listening to its call on the commencement of Forex sale in the north and expressed appreciation to Travelex for showing understanding, adding that ABCON’s earlier call for the appointment of another distributor was targeted at ensuring, easy and smooth distribution of Forex.

Mr. Gwadabe explained that ABCON is progressing in educating its members on the need to play by the rules of the regulator in ensuring that the Naira recovered fully.

While assuring the CBN that the automation of its operations were geared towards ensuring transparency in the Forex distribution network, and to frustrate any effort to slow the wheel of progress, the ABCON boss appealed to genuine travellers and businessmen to leverage on the gains of the present window in purchasing Forex at the BDCs and other approved places.

“The naira is expected to appreciate further in Abuja and its environs as the CBN has appointed First Bank and Travelex to sell Forex in that region. ABCON is grateful to the CBN, Travelex and First Bank in ensuring that the naira is rescued from the hands of its enemies,” Mr. Gwadabe said.

Since the CBN appointed First Bank and Travelex to sell the proceeds of Diaspora remittances to BDCs, the naira has continued to appreciate in all the segments of the market in which there have been agitations by stakeholders in the Forex Market on the perceived delay in the coming on board of Travelex to Abuja and its environs. The present approach is expected to improve liquidity in the Forex distribution chain.