The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has reduced the number of Bureau de Change (BDC) dealers to 2,991 from the over 5,689 previously approved.
The apex bank published a list of approved BDCs which revealed that the licenses of 2,698 BDCs have been revoked.
Recall that a similar list was published by the apex bank last year, which approved 5,689 bureau de change dealers.
The number of operators has experienced substantial growth, increasing from 74 in 2005 to 5,689 in 2021.
Former CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, later prohibited the sale of foreign exchange to BDCs due to concerns of round tripping and involvement in illicit financial activities.
Under Tinubu’s administration, recommendations were made to implement key reforms such as increasing the capitalisation requirements for BDC operators and allowing Nigerian banks to act as primary dealers in the forex market.
Daily Trust/Hauwa Abu
