Economy
Foreign reserves falls by $1.3bn, CBN confirms
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Nigeria’s foreign exchange reserves fell by $1.31bn in February 2025, reflecting sustained external pressures amid the recent appreciation of the naira.
Data from the Central Bank of Nigeria showed that reserves declined from $39.72bn on January 31, 2025, to $38.42bn on February 28, 2025, representing a 3.3 per cent drop within the month.
The decline in February was slightly higher than the $1.16bn drop recorded in January, highlighting the continued strain on the country’s external reserves.
The steady depletion of reserves has raised concerns amid rising speculations that the apex bank’s sustained interventions in the foreign exchange market, aimed at bridging liquidity gaps and stabilising the naira, have come at the cost of reducing external reserves.
Despite this, the local currency strengthened significantly against major foreign currencies in February, suggesting that the CBN’s efforts have had some positive impact in restoring confidence in the market.
Nigeria’s reserves recorded a consistent decline throughout February, with no single day of increase.
At the beginning of the month, reserves stood at $39.60bn on February 3, dropping to $39.54bn on February 4, signalling the start of a downward trend.
By February 7, reserves had fallen to $39.04bn, slipping further to $39.27bn on February 10.
The downward trajectory persisted into the second week of the month, with reserves standing at $39.15bn on February 12 and declining to $38.88bn by February 17.
By the third week of February, reserves had weakened further, dropping to $38.72bn on February 19 and $38.69bn on February 21.
As the month drew to a close, reserves had further declined to $38.41bn on February 28, reflecting a continuous downward trend throughout the month.
The fall in reserves has been attributed to multiple factors, including Nigeria’s heavy dependence on imports, which exerts pressure on foreign exchange reserves.
The country remains highly reliant on imports of industrial goods and food supplies, leading to high FX outflows.
Although oil prices have rebounded in recent months, Nigeria’s oil production challenges, crude theft, and pipeline vandalism have constrained forex inflows from the oil sector, limiting the CBN’s ability to shore up reserves.
The depletion of external reserves has also raised concerns over Nigeria’s capacity to meet external debt obligations.
The country holds significant foreign debt, and a further decline in reserves could weaken its ability to make timely debt repayments, potentially increasing borrowing costs.
A lower reserve level could also affect Nigeria’s credit rating and investor confidence, making it more expensive for the government to access international capital markets.
Despite the steady decline in reserves, the naira made notable gains against major foreign currencies in February, marking its strongest performance since the beginning of the year.
By the end of the month, the naira appreciated against the US dollar, closing at N1,540/$ from N1,620/$ at the start of the month, reflecting a 7.41 per cent gain.
It also strengthened against the British pound, rising from N2,000/£ to N1,910/£, marking a 4.50 per cent increase. Similarly, the naira appreciated against the euro, improving from N1,660/€ to N1,550/€, showing a 6.34 per cent gain.
The official exchange rate followed a similar trend, stabilising above N1,500/$ in the final weeks of February.
Data from the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market showed that the naira closed at N1,496/$ at the official window, narrowing the gap between the official and parallel market rates.
The convergence of the official and parallel market exchange rates indicates that Nigeria may be moving towards a unified forex market, reducing the speculation and arbitrage that have previously contributed to forex volatility.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has unveiled a package of incentives aimed at encouraging the local manufacture of smartphones, tablets and other telecommunications equipment as part of efforts to make digital devices more affordable and expand access to technology across the country.
Chairman of the NCC Governing Board, Chief Idris Ibikunle Olorunnimbe, said the Commission was taking a more active role in driving industrial growth by creating an enabling environment for investors to establish device manufacturing plants in Nigeria.
He said the initiative would be backed by policy measures, including tax holidays and streamlined customs processes, to lower production costs and boost local manufacturing capacity.
According to Olorunnimbe, effective regulation remains essential to ensuring consumers have access to quality and affordable digital devices.
“Regulation and market integrity are what make a market affordable in the first place. They are the precondition for it. A phone is only truly cheap if it is real, if it is safe, if it connects properly, and if it carries a warranty the buyer can rely on,” he said.
He observed that while Nigeria has recorded significant improvements in telecommunications coverage, the high cost of smartphones continues to limit digital participation for many citizens.
The NCC chairman said reducing the cost of devices would complement ongoing investments in network infrastructure and help bridge the country’s digital divide.
He also called for a shift from the traditional model of outright phone purchases, saying more flexible financing arrangements would make devices accessible to a larger segment of the population.
“Retire the assumption that a Nigerian must buy a phone outright, in one payment, on the day. That is not how it works anywhere else in the world,” he added.
As part of the broader strategy, Olorunnimbe said locally manufactured smartphones, routers and MiFi devices would be integrated into the Commission’s digital inclusion initiatives.
He explained that the devices are expected to come with built-in links to educational platforms under the NCC’s zero-rated education programme, allowing students and other users to access learning materials without incurring data charges.
The devices will also feature direct access to key government digital services, including civic registration, tax administration and e-health platforms, to improve citizens’ access to essential public services.
According to him, the initiative is designed not only to expand internet access but also to ensure that digital connectivity translates into better educational opportunities, improved public service delivery and greater economic participation.
The NCC said the policy reflects its commitment to promoting indigenous technology development while supporting Nigeria’s drive towards a more inclusive and self-reliant digital economy.
See Exchange Rate As Naira Gains 0.07%
The Black Market Dollar-to-Naira Exchange Rate for 24th June 2026 Can Be Accessed Below.
NOTE: The exchange rate changes hourly. It depends on the volume of dollars available and the Demand. This means…you can buy or sell 1 dollar at a certain rate, and the price can change (high or low) within hours.
The official naira black market exchange rate in Nigeria today, including the Black Market rates, Bureau De Change (BDC), and CBN rates.
Note that the exchange rate is subject to hourly fluctuations influenced by the supply and demand of dollars in the market.
What’s the dollar to naira black market today, 24th June 2026?
The exchange rate for a dollar to naira at Lagos Parallel Market (Black Market) players sell a dollar for ₦1395 and buy at ₦1385 on Wednesday, 24th June, 2026, according to sources at Bureau De Change (BDC).
Please note that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) does not recognize the parallel market (black market), as it has directed individuals who want to engage in Forex to approach their respective banks.
Dollar to Naira Black Market Rate Today
Dollar to Naira (USD to NGN) Black Market Exchange Rate Today
Selling Rate ₦1395
Buying Rate ₦1385
Dollar to Naira CBN Rate Today
Dollar to Naira (USD to NGN) CBN Rate Today
Highest Rate ₦1375
Lowest Rate ₦1365
The Nigerian naira traded at relatively stable levels against the United States dollar on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, across both the official and parallel foreign exchange markets, as market participants continued to monitor liquidity conditions and foreign exchange demand.
Latest data from the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM) showed that the naira exchanged at approximately ₦1,366.41 per dollar at the official market. The NFEM rate, which is published by the Central Bank of Nigeria, represents the volume-weighted average exchange rate for the day.
The official exchange rate has remained within the ₦1,350-₦1,370 range in recent weeks, supported by improved liquidity and sustained foreign portfolio inflows into local assets.
In the parallel market, also known as the black market, the dollar traded at around ₦1,400 for buying and between ₦1,410 and ₦1,420 for selling, depending on location and dealer quotations.
The spread between the official and parallel market rates remained relatively narrow compared with previous years, reflecting ongoing reforms aimed at improving transparency and efficiency in Nigeria’s foreign exchange market.
Currency traders said demand for dollars from importers, travellers and businesses remained steady, although the naira has benefited from increased confidence in the foreign exchange market and improved dollar supply.
Analysts noted that exchange rates could continue to fluctuate in response to changes in foreign exchange inflows, global oil prices and domestic economic conditions.
As of the prevailing rates, $100 would exchange for about ₦136,641 at the official NFEM window, while the same amount could fetch between ₦141,000 and ₦142,000 in the parallel market.
Foreign exchange rates remain subject to intraday movements and may vary across banks, bureaux de change operators and other market participants.
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