. As e-Naira download hits 756,000
About 150 exporters, who participated in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN’s) Race To $200 billion (RT200) initiative, will get up to N3.5 billion rebate.
The Managing Director, Fidelity Bank Plc, Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, who spoke during a virtual press briefing yesterday at the end of the Bankers’ Committee’s Meeting, said the CBN has ordered the immediate release of the refund.
This is in part fulfilment of the CBN’s promises in February, during the launch of the RT200, in which exporters are to enjoy N65/$ incentive of non-oil export proceeds sold to third parties at the importer and exporter (I&E) window, which will be paid quarterly.
Onyeali-Ikpe said: “The CBN Governor during the meeting announced the immediate release of N3.5 billion incentive to various exporters under the RT200 programme.
“According to data from the CBN, $60 million has come into the country since the programme commenced in February. For the number of beneficiaries of N3.5 billion, there are 150 customers at various levels – some under the finished goods and some under the semi-finished goods.
“All this is to ensure that we boost the foreign exchange that goes into the country.”
Godwin Emefiele, CBN governor, had said the initiative is geared towards enabling Nigeria to earn $200 billion in foreign exchange repatriation from non-oil exports.
According to data from the CBN, $60 million has come into the country since the programme commenced in February.
Speaking on CBN’s plans to create export terminals (an aspect of the RT200 scheme), Onyeali-Okpe said only Plateau state has concluded plans to establish non-oil exports terminal in line with the CBN’s plan to reduce the challenges of exporters at the ports.
She said: “Only Plateau State government that has concluded plans to establish such ports. All other state governments are at different levels of engagement.
“This project is only one month old and getting an export processing zone running is not very easy, so we expect that will take a little more time.”
Also speaking, the Managing Director, Guaranty Trust Bank, Mariam Olusanya, disclosed that the e-Naira wallet download have risen to 756,000 in six months.
She informed that “Since it was launched, we have seen 756,000 download of the app. In terms of consumer wallets we have seen 165,000 download and 2,800 merchant wallets download.”
She reiterated that the Bankers’ Committee and the CBN will continue to push for the adoption of e-Naira across the country.
