Economy
FG Should Be Careful On Ability To Pay Back Loans – Cardoso

The Central Bank of Nigeria has warned Nigeria and other West African nations regarding trends in borrowing practices.
Traditionally, nations often relied on loans from the Paris Club, a group of creditor countries.
However, the CBN said it has observed a significant shift towards borrowing from non-Paris Club members and private lenders, such as banks and investors who buy government bonds.
The West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management has warned that Nigeria is at a high risk of falling into debt distress and urged the federal government to look for ways of improving revenue generation.
Governor of the CBN, Yemi Cardoso, gave the warning in Abuja at the Joint World Bank/IMF/WAIFEM Regional Training on Medium Term Debt Management Strategy in Abuja on Monday.
Represented by Dr Mohammed Musa Tumala, Director of the Monetary Policy Department of the CBN, Cardoso noted that while this change in who countries owe money to might seem like a minor detail, he emphasised that it is a critical development with serious implications.
He argued that the way countries manage debt owed to the Paris Club may not be as effective for these new lenders. Cardoso expressed concern that this new debt landscape could pose a threat to financial stability and economic recovery for many countries.
Cardoso said, “Public debt dynamics are increasingly influenced by significant debt servicing obligations to non-Paris Club members and private lenders, including commercial banks and bond investors.
“This shift in the debt structure represents a critical evolution in the global financial framework, with profound ramifications for public debt management in our countries.”
He also stated that recent events like the COVID-19 pandemic, geopolitical conflicts, and natural disasters have put a strain on many countries’ finances, making them more likely to seek loans from diverse sources.
However, these non-traditional lenders might come with stricter repayment terms and potentially higher risks compared to Paris Club loans.
“Following the COVID-19 pandemic, along with other developments such as geopolitical conflicts and natural disasters, the financial strain on our sub-region has escalated, posing a threat to their macroeconomic and financial stability and prospects for faster recovery,” he said.
Nigeria, despite being classified as having generally moderate debt risk, the CBN urged the federal government to remain cautious, particularly regarding potential liquidity risks. These risks, if not addressed effectively, could stem from weak revenue mobilization, a persistent challenge hindering debt sustainability and economic stability.
What the CBN is saying is that while Nigeria’s overall debt risk is considered moderate, the country still needs to be careful about its ability to pay back its loans (liquidity risk). This risk could become a problem if the government doesn’t collect enough revenue (money) in the future.
Dr Baba Yusuf Musa, Director General of the West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management told journalists, “When you compare Nigeria with the rest of the world or peer countries, you realise that with the 37 per cent debt to GDP ratio, we still have room to borrow but the issue with the Nigerian debt is you don’t use GDP to pay debts rather you use the revenue to pay for any debt”
He added, “If you look at it from the revenue side Nigeria is at a high risk of debt distress in terms of our borrowing so what we need to do now is to step up our capacity to generate revenue, the more revenue we have, the less ratio of debt to revenue we have.”
WAIFEM, he said, is “very much in support of what the federal government is doing because there is a window for the government to raise more revenue, all that the people need to do is to support the federal government diversify the sources of revenue and of course generate more sources of revenue, once we have this we don’t have debt problem but rather revenue problem.
He added, “What the Medium Term Debt Strategy does is that it smoothens the debt service so that going forward when borrowing, you take into consideration the redemption profile that you have and the type of loans that you have in your existing portfolio and then it will enable you also to minimise the cost and risk the future loans will add to the debt portfolio.”
Economy
SEE Black Market Dollar To Naira Exchange Rate Today 3rd April 2025

NOTE: The exchange rate changes hourly. It depends on the volume of dollars available and the Demand. This means that…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.
Please note that the exchange rate is subject to hourly fluctuations influenced by the supply and demand of dollars in the market.
As of now, you can purchase 1 dollar at a certain rate now, however, it’s important to remember that the rate can shift (either upwards or downwards) within hours.
What’s the dollar to naira black market today 3rd April 2025?
The local currency (abokiFx) opened at ₦1,560.00 per $1 at the parallel market, otherwise known as the black market, today, Thursday, 3 April 2025, in Lagos, Nigeria, after it closed at ₦1,550.00 per $1 on Wednesday, 2 April 2025.
Dollar to Naira (USD to NGN) Black Market Exchange Rate Today
Buying Rate of $1 ₦1,545
Selling Rate of $1 ₦1,555
Please note that Nigeria’s black market dollar-to-naira exchange rate is typically higher than the official exchange rate because the Federal Government does not regulate it. The rates you buy or sell forex may differ from what is captured in this article because prices vary.
What is the official exchange rate for dollar to naira today? Here is the dollar to naira CBN rate today
Dollar to Naira (USD to NGN) CBN Rate Today
Buying Rate of $1 ₦1,530
Selling Rate of $1 ₦1,531
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.
Economy
Naira rebounces against the dollar in parallel market

Naira appreciated against the dollar on Wednesday at the official foreign exchange market after the Eid-el-Fitr holidays.
The Central Bank of Nigeria’s data showed that the naira strengthened to N1,531.25 per dollar on Wednesday from N1,536.82 recorded last Friday.
This means that the naira gained N5.57 per dollar on a day-to-day basis.
Meanwhile, on the black market, the naira depreciated to N1,555 per dollar on Wednesday from N1,550 traded on Friday before the Eid-el-Fitr holidays.
Meanwhile, recall that over the weekend, the Central Bank of Nigeria announced that the Net Foreign Exchange Reserve, NFER, stood at $23.11 billion, the highest level in over three years.
Economy
CBN denies N5,000, N10,000 banknote rumour

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has dismissed claims that it has introduced new N5,000 and N10,000 notes, labeling the reports as false.
In a statement posted on X on Wednesday, the apex bank debunked the rumors, stating: “This content is NOT from the Central Bank of Nigeria. Kindly note that the official website of the CBN is cbn.gov.ng.”
The clarification comes amid widespread misinformation suggesting that the CBN planned to roll out high-denomination banknotes to reduce cash-handling costs and improve liquidity management.
Some versions of the false reports even attributed comments to a supposed Deputy Governor, Dr. Ibrahim Tahir Jr., claiming the notes would be introduced on May 1, 2025.
-
News6 hours ago
Natasha: Kogi PDP hammers Ododo, reiterates unfeigned support for her
-
News13 hours ago
Rivers APC demands Fubara’s probe over ex-HoS allegations
-
Economy5 hours ago
SEE Black Market Dollar To Naira Exchange Rate Today 3rd April 2025
-
News4 hours ago
Just in: INEC dumps recall petition against Sen Natasha
-
Economy13 hours ago
Naira rebounces against the dollar in parallel market
-
News9 hours ago
Just in: Finally, Trump imposes 14% tarriff on Nigeria oil, others
-
News6 hours ago
US cancels ex- president ,Nobel Peace Prize winner Oscar Arias visa
-
News12 hours ago
Air Algerie Inaugural Flight to Abuja Will Strengthen Nigeria-Algeria Ties – FG