Central Bank of Nigeria is concerned about the value of the naira and is making deliberate efforts to avert a further downward slide in the currency, it said on Friday.

The naira has fallen to successive record lows on the parallel market due to dollar scarcity since July 2021, when the central bank stopped forex sales to retail currency traders to ease pressure on reserves and support the official market.

The move funnelled demand toward the unofficial market , where the currency is freely traded. The currency has been trading within a range on the official market.

Lawmakers said on Wednesday the policy had "contributed to the excessive scarcity of forex in Nigeria" and summoned Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele over the "free fall of the naira".

The naira hit a record low of 705 per dollar on the black market on Thursday, traders said, adding that discussions were ongoing with the central bank.

"The CBN remained committed to resolving the foreign exchange issues confronting the nation and as such has been working to manage both the demand and supply side challenges," the central bank said.

The bank said demand pressure was huge from manufacturers and individuals paying school and hospital fees abroad and that it was looking at ways to earn forex in the wake of dwindling oil proceeds.

Nigeria relies on imports for most of what it consumes. The central bank said the country needs to look inwards and adjust its consumption patterns, as one solution to the current challenge.

Emefiele has since introduced controls to restrict access to U.S. dollars for certain imports to boost local production.

The country's currency troubles worsened after foreign investors fled as oil prices collapsed in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, increasing Nigeria's funding requirement. Oil prices have since recovered but investors are yet to return.

Reuters