The Central Bank fo Nigeria has relaxed its rules on foreign remittances and domiciliary accounts.

In a statement signed by the apex bank’s director of trade & exchange O.S Nnaji, it was gathered that beneficiaries of diaspora remittances through the international monetary transfer operators (IMTO) shall now allow inflows in foreign currency (US Dollar) through the designated bank of their choice.

The recipients have an option of receiving these funds in foreign currency cash or into their domiciliary account, and will also have unfettered access and utilisation to such foreign currency proceeds either in cash and or in their domiciliary accounts.

It read;

“These changes are necessary to deepen the foreign exchange market, provide more liquidity and create more transparency in the administration of Diaspora remittances into Nigeria,

“In addition, these changes would help finance a future stream of investment opportunities for Nigerians in the Diaspora, while also guaranteeing that recipients would receive a market reflective exchange rate for the market.”

Presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu has reacted to being called out over his comment about on Zabarmari massacre.

Recall that Garba Shehu was dragged on social media and accused of blaming the 43 rice farmers who were killed in Borno state, after he asked if they got clearance from the military to go to the farm.

In tweets he shared to counter the narrative, Garba Shehu stated that no one is delighted with the massacre in Zabarmari and there is nothing anybody will gain by playing blame games.

He added that he is human with tons of compassion and empathy, and could not have said that the victims deserved their fate for ignoring security clearance.

Garba Shehu said;

Today, I found myself leading the trends in the social media for the wrong reasons.

The State of Borno is essentially a military zone up till now that we are talking and much of what people do; much of where they go are governed by the exigencies of security.

Routinely, traders, administration officials and even UN agencies get the green light to go to many of the areas to avoid trouble.

Information from security agencies says that the Zabarmari marshlands are infested with land mines and movements in around those areas subject to military oversight.

No one is delighted with the massacre in Zabarmari and there is nothing anybody will gain by playing blame games.The question I tried to answer on BBC was: did the security sign off on the area as being free of mines and terrorists? The honest answer is, no.

I’m human with tons of compassion and empathy, and could not have said that the victims deserved their fate for ignoring security clearance.

I was merely explaining the mode of military operations in the war zone of the Northeast. There are areas that are still volatile that require security clearance which is intended to put people out of harm’s way.

When tragedies occur, questions arise in terms of how something happened in order to avoid future recurrence. Informing the military of our movements in an area of volatility and uncertainty is intended to preserve public safety.

Explaining why something happened doesn’t mean I have no sympathy for the victims. I was just explaining the military procedures on the safe movement of the people and not supporting the death of the victims.

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