If Nigeria Sustains Border Closure for Two Years, Kidnapping, Robbery Will Reduce – Emefiele

  • Emefiele says all the boys involved in crimes would soon go back to farming due to border closure.
  • Says the CBN had adopted the unconventional approach in its monetary policy.

Godwin Emefiele, the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said that the challenges which the country is experiencing in the area of kidnapping, armed robbery, and other crimes would reduce if the Federal Government could have the courage to sustain the partial border closure for two years.

Speaking in Auchi, Edo State at the 1st convocation lecture of Edo University, as a guest speaker on the topic, “The role of monetary policy: towards economic growth in Nigeria”, Emefiele said if the government with the successes so far recorded with the partial border closure, many youths that have taken to crime would have no option to embrace agriculture as it would become lucrative to do so.

The apex bank boss also said that the CBN had adopted the unconventional approach in its monetary policy. He noted that this had helped to stabilise the exchange rate market as the apex decided to deal with the influx of imported items by restricting foreign exchange which had put Nigeria firmly in control of its economy.

READ: Monetary Policy: Emefiele Expresses Optimism on Timely Appointment of Ministers

Speaking further, the CBN boss said neighbouring countries were undermining Nigeria’s economy by making their country open for others to use as a transit point for dumping their goods into Nigeria.

While noting that for an economy like Nigeria is yet to attain its full potential, he said there is a need for adequate measures to be put in place to guarantee real growth.

According to the CBN governor, the unconventional monetary policy approach adopted by the bank was one of the factors that restored the Nigerian economy to the growth trajectory.

He also said critics of unconventional policies, couldn’t provide alternative solutions to pull the economy from its recessive position in 2014. He therefore assured that the apex bank would focus more on this approach to diversify the economy and create jobs for Nigerians.

READ HERE: Emefiele: Your Gesture Had Shown Commitment to Nigeria’s Unity, Igbo Youths Laud Buhari

“We have restored the economy. In their own conventional policy, the industries were dying. We don’t owe them an apology.

“When we began to utilize these tools, they were initially criticized by adherents of conventional monetary policy tools.

“Critics asserted that our foreign exchange policies constitute exchange restrictions, rationing of foreign exchange, discretionary allocation based on priority categories, and multiple currency practices.

“While there is sufficient evidence of significant reductions in our annual import bill, and increased non-oil exports, these critics assert that we are restricting trade and creating unfair competition.”

One thought on “If Nigeria Sustains Border Closure for Two Years, Kidnapping, Robbery Will Reduce – Emefiele

  • November 5, 2019 at 6:04 am
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    If the border should close for two years Will it stop politician stilling? Clossing that border you are using it so surfer the poor. Imaging rice is sold for #30,000 how do you expect the poor to buy it.

    Reply

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