President rules out Naira devaluation President Buhari has said that Nigerians who have developed taste for foreign luxury goods should continue to pay for them rather than pressure the government to devalue the Naira.
Nigerian president, Muhammadu Buhari has again ruled out Naira devaluation saying his administration would encourage local production and efficiency.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the President spoke made this revelation at the Africa 2016: Business for Africa, Egypt and the World at Sharm El-Sheikh in Egypt on Saturday, February 20, 2016.
While
contributing to the Presidential Panel Roundtable on Investment and
Growth Opportunities at the opening of the event, President Buhari said,
“Developed countries are competing among themselves and when they
devalue they compete better and manufacture and export more. But we are
not competing and exporting but importing everything including
toothpicks."
Continuing, 'So, why should
we devalue our currency? We want to be more productive and
self-sufficient in food and other basic things such as clothing. For our
government, we like to encourage local production and efficiency.'
The
President also expressed optimism that Nigeria would get out of its
current economic downturn, adding that those who have developed taste
for foreign luxury goods should continue to pay for them rather than
pressuring the government to devalue the Naira.