By our Reporter
As part of efforts to strengthen cooperation and promote bilateral trade and investment between their countries, Nigeria and China have renewed their currency swap agreement worth 15 billion Yuan ($2 billion).
The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) in a statement yesterday confirmed that the arrangement will remain in place for another three years, with provisions for renewal by mutual agreement.
Bloomberg quoted the bank as saying that “The agreement is valid for three years and can be renewed upon mutual consent.”
The deal allows for the direct exchange of the Chinese Yuan and Nigerian naira, bypassing reliance on the US dollar and reducing transaction costs in trade between the two nations.
Originally signed in June 2018, the currency swap facility was introduced to address liquidity challenges for businesses in both countries and to facilitate trade in their respective currencies.
The deal enabled the exchange of up to 15 billion Chinese Yuan (CNY) for 720 billion Nigerian naira (NGN), equivalent to $2.5 billion at an exchange rate of NGN305 to $1 at the time.
According to the agreement, the swap is designed to streamline trade transactions by eliminating the need for US dollars as an intermediary currency.
It provides liquidity in naira for Chinese businesses operating in Nigeria and in yuan for Nigerian firms trading in China. This mechanism aims to facilitate seamless transactions, support bilateral investments, and enhance market efficiency.
The arrangement allows the central banks of both countries to inject liquidity into their respective financial systems via bi-weekly auctions.
By doing so, they promote the purchase, sale, and repurchase of yuan and naira to support trade and investment activities.
The agreement shows the deepening economic ties between China and Nigeria, prioritising direct currency exchanges to reduce dependency on the dollar and encourage cross-border trade.
