A new International Monetary Fund paper suggests that trade payment restrictions and capital controls significantly influence external sector balances. The study reveals that restrictions on capital inflows typically strengthen current account positions and trigger currency depreciation, while outflow controls tend to weaken current accounts and encourage real currency appreciation. The authors emphasize that these measures are often deployed during periods of economic stress, suggesting that integrating them into macroeconomic analysis could improve policy surveillance. In Nigeria, the Central Bank projects a current account surplus of 18.81 billion dollars for 2026, even as the government faces ongoing debates regarding local procurement mandates and the broader implications of trade barriers.