Breaking News
Just In: Exchange Rate Worsens To N820/$1 At Parallel Market Ahead Of MPC Meeting
The exchange rate between the naira and the US dollar closed at N795.28/$1 at the official Investor and Exporters window on Monday, 17th July 2023.
This compares to N820/$1 traded by BDC operated on the same day at the unofficial I&E Window.
The official exchange rate also improved from the N803.9 per dollar that it traded at on Friday.
Meanwhile, N820/$1 traded at the parallel market is weaker than the average rate of N815/$1 recorded last Friday, according to Nairametrics survey.
MPC Meets today
The monetary policy committee of the central bank is expected to meet on Tuesday and Wednesday to deliberate on the economy.
This will be their first time meeting since the revision to the forex market was introduced. It is also the first meeting without CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele.
The committee will be expected to address the effect of monetary policy tools on rising inflation which is the core mandate of the apex bank.
Analysts also expects the MPC to comment on the demand pressure hitting the exchange rate and how to address it.
More importantly, the monetary policy rate is expected to be the key highlight of today’s meeting. Nairametrics expects the rate to be increased to at least 19% or at the least 18.75%.
Breakdown of data
I&E FX window – The exchange rate opened at N782.79/$1 and sold for as high as N832/$1.
The naira also reached a low of N699.50 per dollar, indicating high volatility in the foreign exchange market.
The exchange rate between the naira and the US dollar has closed at an average of N768.38 to a dollar for the first eleven trading days of the month, in contrast to the average rate of N524.21/$1 in the same period of the previous month
The turnover recorded at the I&E window decreased by 26.33% to $34.55 million, from the turnover of $46.90 million traded last week Friday.
The total turnover that exchanged hands in the last eleven trading days is $849.04 million, compared to the turnover value of $1.59 billion recorded in the same period in June 2023.
Parallel market – The Naira-US dollar exchange rate at the unofficial parallel market on Monday depreciated to N820/$1, compared to the average rate of N815/$1 on Friday.
This represents a record high in the black-market exchange rate against the naira, as demand for dollars continues to pile pressure on the black market.
The crypto P2P exchange market recorded a slight decline in the value of the naira against the US dollar.
The average exchange rate at the market was N818.65/$1, compared to N817/$1 in the previous trading session.
The naira weakened against the British Pound by 3.81% on July 17, 2023, closing at N1090/£1. This was a downturn from the N1050/£1 rate recorded on July 14th, 2023, the last trading day before the weekend.
External Reserves: According to the latest data from the Central Bank, the nation’s foreign exchange reserves declined slightly to $34.038 billion as of July 13, 2023, compared to $34.047 billion on the previous day.
Breaking News
Tinubu Appoints New Ministers, Sacks Edun, Dangiwa In Minor Shake-Up
President Bola Tinubu has approved a minor reshuffle of the Federal Executive Council, removing the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, and the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa.
This was disclosed in a statement on Tuesday by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Yomi Odunuga, citing a memo signed by SGF George Akume.
According to the memo, Taiwo Oyedele has been appointed as the new Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy.
Also appointed is Dr. Muttaqha Darma as Minister-designate for Housing and Urban Development.
The memo directed the outgoing ministers to complete handover processes to their respective successors or supervising officials.
It stated that all handing over and taking over activities must be concluded on or before the close of business on Thursday, 23rd April, 2026.
Explaining the decision, Akume said the changes were aimed at improving coordination and strengthening delivery across key sectors of the economy under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“These changes are aimed at strengthening cohesion, synergy in governance as well as achieving more impactful delivery on the economy to Nigerians, through the Renewed Hope Agenda,” Akume stated.
He added that President Tinubu acted in line with his constitutional powers as provided under Sections 147 and 148 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
The SGF also conveyed the President’s appreciation to the outgoing ministers for their service to the nation and wished them well in their future endeavours, noting that the process of cabinet reinvigoration would remain continuous.
The statement further noted that Taiwo Oyedele was appointed as Minister of State for Finance in March 2026, while Edun was among the ministers appointed on August 16, 2023.
Breaking News
Tax Reform Expert Taiwo Oyedele Nominated As Minister Of State For Finance
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially nominated Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Dr. Taiwo Oyedele as the new Minister of State for Finance.
Oyedele replaces Dr. Doris Anite-Uzoka, who has been redeployed to the Ministry of Budget and National Planning as Minister of State, her third portfolio in the administration.
The President on Tuesday conveyed Oyedele’s nomination to the Senate for confirmation in a letter to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, according to a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Tuesday.
Until Tinubu nominated him as a minister, Oyedele from Ikaram, Akoko, Ondo State, was the chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, which overhauled Nigeria’s tax system.
The 50-year-old is an economist, accountant, and public policy expert who led the comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria’s tax system through the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms.
The committee, inaugurated in August 2023, delivered four executive bills that consolidated over 60 taxes into fewer than 10 statutes and introduced significant reforms, including zero income tax for Nigerians earning N800,000 annually or less.
The Tax Reform Acts, which became effective on January 1, 2026, also exempted small businesses with turnover below N50m from company income tax, capital gains tax, and development levy.
Other provisions include a 50 per cent tax deduction for companies hiring new workers for three years, a 50 per cent deduction for wage increases to the lowest-paid employees, and a five-year corporate tax holiday for agricultural enterprises.
Oyedele attended Yaba College of Technology, where he obtained a Higher National Diploma in Accountancy and Finance, before proceeding to Oxford Brookes University for a BSc in Applied Accounting.
He also completed executive education programmes at the London School of Economics, Yale University, the Gordon Institute of Business Science, and the Harvard Kennedy School.
Oyedele spent 22 years at PricewaterhouseCoopers, joining in 2001 and rising to become the Fiscal Policy Partner and Africa Tax Leader before his appointment to head the tax reform committee.
He is currently a professor at Babcock University in Ogun State and a visiting scholar at the Lagos Business School.
As Minister of State for Finance, Oyedele is expected to oversee the implementation of the tax reforms he championed, particularly as the government seeks to improve revenue generation and deepen economic reforms.
Anite-Uzoka, who is being redeployed to the Ministry of Budget and National Planning, previously served as Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment before her appointment as Minister of State for Finance.
The Senate is expected to screen and confirm Oyedele’s nomination in the coming weeks, following which he will be sworn in to assume his ministerial duties.
The Finance Ministry, currently led by Wale Edun as substantive minister, oversees fiscal policy, revenue mobilisation, debt management, and economic planning.
Breaking News
Gospel Artiste Taiwo Adegbodu Of Adegbodu Twins Passes On
Taiwo Adegbodu, one half of the popular Nigerian gospel duo Adegbodu Twins, has passed away.
The tragic news was officially confirmed by his twin brother and musical partner, Kehinde Adegbodu, through a heartfelt post on the duo’s official Facebook handle.
In a heartfelt post, Kehinde conveyed his profound grief over the loss of both his brother and ministry partner.
He wrote: “TAIWO, why will you leave me and your kids without notification?
My heart is bleeding, Lord how do you want me to cope without him?
God why? This is too much for me to bear!!!”
Taiwo and Kehinde Adegbodu were renowned in gospel circles for their spirited worship sessions, twin-stage performances, and dynamic ministrations, which resonated with churches and Christian gatherings across Nigeria.
Their music and live performances earned them a devoted following, particularly in the South-West region.
As of the time of this report, the cause of Taiwo Adegbodu’s death and details of his funeral arrangements have not been disclosed.
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