THE EFFECT OF THE NAIRA DEVALUATION ON SMALL AND MEDIUM SCALE ENTERPRISES IN NIGERIA ( A CASE STUDY OF SELECTED MINI IMPORTERS IN LAGOS STATE)
ABSTRACT
The study examine the effect of naira devaluation on small and medium scale enterprise in Nigeria of a case study of some selected mini importers in Lagos, the study has the following objectiveTo assess the dependency level of SMEs on foreign goods and services, To determine the effect of the naira devaluation on financial performance of SMEs in Nigeria, To examine the effect of the naira devaluation on import volume of SMEs in Nigeria, To examine the effectiveness of the naira devaluation in encouraging the growth of indigenous small and medium scale business in Nigeria, concerning methodologyThis study focused on the effect of the naira devaluation on the performance of small and medium scale enterprises in Lagos state; hence the population for this study is the entire city of Lagos. The respondents were drawn from business men and women mostly importers in Lagos.A total sample size of two hundred and forty (200) respondents was selected from the research population using the convenient sampling method, based on the findings, data for this study was gathered through the use of primary data (questionnaire). The questionnaire is the major instrument of data collection in this study; the study is recommended to the government and the general public that, Value Creation should be the trademark of Small and Medium Scale enterprises in Nigeria. To earn foreign exchange and encourage high export rates of our local products, business operators must think outside the box. Goods and services that can attract foreigners should be produced to reduce the effect of the naira devaluation; the government should take diversification of the economy seriously. Policies should be designed and implemented to fast track the diversification of the Nigerian economy. Oil prices should not be allowed to be the prime determinant of the value of the naira. Other areas such as agriculture, tourism, education should be explored to attract more foreign exchanges and revenue Enabling environment for business to strive should be created. Small and medium scale enterprises should be encouraged to grow and survive rather than starving it to death through under financing.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page - - - - - - - - - i
Approval Page - - - - - - - - ii
Declaration - - - - - - - - iii
Dedication - - - - - - - - - iv
Acknowledgement - - - - - - - v
Abstract - - - - - - - - - vi
Table of Contents - - - - - - - vii
CHAPTER ONE – INTRODUCTION
1.1Background of the Study-----
1.2Statement of General Problem----
1.3Objective of the Study------
1.4Research Questions------
1.5 Hypothesis - - - - - - - - -
1.6Significance of the Study-----
1.7Scope of the Study------
1.8Definition of Terms------
CHAPTER TWO – REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
2.1 Introduction - - - - - - - - -
2.2 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK--------
2.3 CONCEPTUAL REVIEW- - - - - - - - -
2.5.1 Types and Delivery Channels of internet------
2.5 EMPIRICAL REVIEW- - - - - - - - -
CHAPTER THREE – RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 Introduction - - - - - - - - -
3.2 Research Design - - - - - - - -
3.3Data Collection Method-------
3.4 MODEL SPECIFICATION- - - - - - - -
3.5 METHOD OF DATA ANALYSIS - - - - - - -
CHAPTER FOUR – DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
4.0 Introduction - - - - - - - - -
4.1 Data Presentation and Analysis - - - - - -
4.2 Characteristics of the Respondents - - - - -
4.3 Data Analysis - - - - - - - - -
4.4 Testing Hypothesis - - - - - - - -
4.5 Summary of Findings - - - - - - - -
4.6 Discussion of Findings - - - - - - -
CHAPTER FIVE – SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
5.0 Introduction - - - - - - - - -
5.1 Summary - - - - - - - - - -
5.2 Conclusion - - - - - - - - - -
5.3 Recommendations - - - - - - - -
References ----------
Appendix - - - - - - - - - -
CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
Nigeria with an abundance of resources like crude etc is deemed blessed. Her vast resources in commercial quantities have placed her on a high pedestal among oil-producing nations in the world. Her oil and gas industry which has been widely described as the nation’s financial lifeline has helped her attain this enviable position. There are several journals to this and about its role and significance in the Nigeria of today. This has birthed the segmentation of the four key economic segments in Nigeria which are oil-related activities, the public sector (Governments and parastatals - that remains heavily dependent on oil derivatives), the organized private sector, and the informal sector (World Bank 2002). The first segment of the economic activity is heavily based upon and centered on oil. The most dominance of this sector is shown by the share of oil revenues that accrues as a percentage of exports since oil now accounts for more than 80 percent of the country’s export earnings/income.
In recent times, the drop in oil prices has left nations like Nigeria who run an oil-based economy with undiversified economies in economic crises. This challenge brought about by exchange rate fluctuations is eventually leading to the devaluation of the Naira. This has affected the demand and supply sides of the economy. The government of the day in Nigeria usually relies on foreign exchange reserves generated from crude oil to manage excessive volatility in the exchange rate and recently crude oil prices have dropped drastically. This has tremendous implications for foreign exchange earnings. The capacity of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to fund the foreign exchange market has been called to question. A low level of foreign exchange reserve induces free movement of the exchange rate. Issues are also on the rise on the demand side. There has being a high demand for foreign exchange in the last five (5) years as a result of factors like, heavy dependence on imported finish products, the industrial sector’s dependence on imported raw materials with other inputs, a reversal of capital flow by investors, and high speculative demand which has caused uncertainty in the foreign exchange market (CBN report, August 2013). Therefore, the increased foreign exchange demand in the face of unstable supply is leading to volatility in the exchange rate.
Devaluation originally refers to a sharp fall in currency within a fixed exchange rate. In 1960 After independence Agriculture, which used to be the pivot of the economy, showed a greater decline. This came as a result of the discovery of crude oil with its value to the economy of the whole world. The revenue from crude oil appeared to have helped the Nigerian economy with an impact on social and economic development than agriculture. This has led to the sudden neglect of agricultural activities. The impact of this is thus; the contributions of agriculture to the Gross Domestic Product were Negligible! The retrogressions are thus; the contribution of agriculture to the Gross Domestic product fell 39.9 percent between 1971 to 1974 to 18 percent with occasional rise. Within this period the Nigeria devaluation was very high. Currency devaluation is a macro-economic fiscal policy that dwells on deliberate reduction in the value of a local currency with the purpose of increasing gain in tradable items. The cost of goods and services is cheaper in a nation where the currency is devalued compared to another where there is no currency devaluation. Reduction in prices of goods or services can help stimulate trading activities in a country with the overall purpose of enhancing economic growth and development to help alleviate poverty. The Babangida-led administration’s currency devaluation became popular in Nigeria when in 1986 he came up with the Structural Adjustment Programme. This came as a policy designed to help achieve a realistic exchange rate for the naira that was over-valued then. This posed an unhealthy threat to the economic growth and development of our Nation, Nigeria because overvalued currency further worsens the balance of payment problem( Todaro,1989). On the basis of this, the nation was encouraged to embrace the devaluation policy as a prerequisite for economic recovery.
Campbell (2004), in his work, looks at currency devaluation as a deliberate downward adjustment in the official exchange rate established by a government against a specified standard or another currency. The concern of the above scholastic discourse simply means that devaluation of the currency is about stimulating exports and lowering importation of goods and services, for the achievement of balanced growth, with the general goal of alleviating poverty.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM Nigeria as a developing economy is still import-dependent. Her high dependency on goods and services from foreign countries may likely bring about more negative impacts than positive impacts as a result of devaluing the naira. Although some financial and economic analysts have praised the Monetary policy committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Nigeria for taking a bold step to devalue the naira in late 2014, the question still remains- has the government done enough to create the enabling environment for businesses to produce locally and achieve more foreign exchange? Without a doubt, devaluation if properly managed can be used as a fiscal policy tool to discourage imports, achieve a balance of payment as well as encourage and promote businesses, but Nigeria is not there yet, as most Small and Medium Scale Businesses still depend on goods and services from other countries to still be in business.
The implication of the devaluation of the naira is that imports will become more expensive. An import-dependent economy like Nigeria cannot afford to devalue its currency because the country is not producing a product that would attract buyers from other countries and SMEs are not well equipped by the government to produce these products.
The majority of SMEs still depend on goods and services from China, UK, the USA, etc, since importing tends to be cheaper than producing locally. The overdependence of SMEs on foreign products is suicidal as a drop in the value of Naira will result in higher costs of sales and other operational/manufacturing costs. SMEs will have to spend more money to buy goods and services from other countries. This can result in inflation, low patronage of goods and services, and a resultant collapse of small and medium businesses.
1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY The main aim of the study is to examine the effect of the devaluation of the naira on small and medium scale businesses in Nigeria, using mini importers in Lagos state as a case study. Specific objectives of the study are:
To assess the dependency level of SMEs on foreign goods and services. To examine the effect of the naira devaluation on the import volume of SMEs in Nigeria. To determine the effect of the naira devaluation on the financial performance of SMEs in Nigeria. To examine the effectiveness of the naira devaluation in encouraging the growth of indigenous small and medium scale businesses in Nigeria.
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONSIn order to achieve the objectives of the paper and guide the study accordingly, the following research questions were formulated:
How dependent are SMEs in Nigeria on Foreign goods and services? What effects does the naira devaluation have on the import volume of SMEs in Nigeria? How does the devaluation of the naira affect the financial performance of SMEs in Nigeria? Has the devaluation of the naira been effective in encouraging the growth of indigenous small and medium scale businesses in Nigeria?
1.5 RESEARCH HYPOTHESES The following hypotheses were formulated for the study:
Ho: SME's dependence on foreign goods and services is high.
Hi: SME's dependence on foreign goods and services is Low.
Ho: There is no significant relationship between the naira devaluation and import volume of SMEs in Nigeria.
Hi: There is a significant relationship between the naira devaluation and the import volume of SMEs in Nigeria.
Ho: There is no significant relationship between the naira devaluation and the financial performance of SMEs in Nigeria.
Hi: There is a significant relationship between the naira devaluation and the financial performance of SMEs in Nigeria.
Ho: The devaluation of the naira has not been effective in encouraging the growth of indigenous small and medium scale businesses in Nigeria.
Hi: The devaluation of the naira has been effective in encouraging the growth of indigenous small and medium scale businesses in Nigeria.
1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY The study is significant as it would add to the existing literature on Naira devaluation and how it affects small and medium-scale enterprises and the economic growth of Nigeria. It will serve as a guide to further research, academic work, and as a self-help study material for those who might wish to firsthand knowledge about naira devaluation. It is also hoped that Nigeria policy makers will find it’s a helpful material in the formulation and implementation of policies on the devaluation of naira and how it facilities growth in Nigeria.
1.7 SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY The study covers the effect of the devaluation of the naira on small and medium businesses in Nigeria, using responses from selected mini importers of electronic gadgets such as laptops, ipads, phones, television, and general wares in Lagos state as a case study. Every research study comes with a constraint. For the purpose of achieving stated objectives for the study, the researcher confronted both financial and time constraints. Funds to print and distribute questions coupled with tight lecture schedules were the limitations for the study.
1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS SME: Small and Medium Scale Enterprise. Naira: The Currency of Nigeria. Devaluation: Devaluation of modern monetary policy is a reduction in the value of a currency with respect to those goods, services, or other monetary units with which that currency can be exchanged. Exchange rate: an exchange rate between two currencies is the rate at which one currency will be exchanged for another. Import: An import is a good brought into a jurisdiction, especially across a national border, from an external source Export: The term export means shipping goods and services out of the port of a country. The seller of such goods and services is referred to as an "exporter" and is based in the country of export whereas the overseas based buyer is referred to as an "importer Balance of Payment: The balance of payments (BOP) of a country is the record of all economic transactions between the residents of a country and the rest of the world in a particular period (over a quarter of a year or more commonly over a year). CBN: Central Bank of Nigeria E-Commerce: Electronic commerce, commonly known as E-commerce or e-Commerce, is trading in products or services using computer networks, such as the Internet.
Jumia: An e-commerce site for buying and selling electronic gadgets and general wares.
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