Economy
FX market harmonisation: Naira depreciates by 215% in one year
Since the harmonisation of the foreign currency market segments in Nigeria one year ago, the naira has depreciated by about 214.64 per cent against the dollar.
At the close of trade on Friday, the naira stood at N1482.72 to a dollar, compared to the N471/$ it was a year before.
The statement from the CBN abolishing the segmentation of the FX market into different windows partly read, “All transactions will now be done through the Investors and Exporters window, where the exchange rate will be determined by market forces. Applications for medicals, school fees, BTA/PTA, and SMEs would continue to be processed through deposit money banks.”
The CBN also announced reintroducing the ‘willing buyer, willing seller’ model at the I&E window, which allows eligible transactions to access foreign exchange based on the guidelines outlined in the circular dated April 21, 2017.
Since the floating of the Nigerian currency, it has remained unstable despite spirited efforts by the CBN under Dr Olayemi Cardoso to stabilise it.
At the end of 2023, the naira closed at 911/$, signalling a significant drop in six months.
In a commentary in February, Fitch Ratings put the drop in the value of the naira at about 40 per cent, saying, “The Nigerian naira was recently devalued sharply (end-2023: 899/USD; 13 February: 1,516/USD; about 40 per cent devaluation), exceeding our expectations of a more moderate depreciation in 2024. The large devaluation is the second within a year (70 per cent devaluation since end-2022) and has converged the official exchange rate with the parallel market rate.”
In the New Year, the local currency recorded high volatility, depreciating to almost 2,000/$, which raised claims that activities on peer-to-peer trading platforms were impacting the value of the naira.
The currency also went from being the top-performing currency in March to the worst-performing currency in the world in April, according to a Bloomberg report.
Amid all of this, the CBN has issued draft circulars and taken steps to stabilise the naira and boost forex supply.
Commenting on the status of the naira, one year after the major reform, economist and the Chief Executive Officer of Economic Associates, Ayo Teriba, applauded the Olayemi Cardoso-led CBN for its handling of the fallouts of the FX market harmonisation.
He said that compared to the fuel subsidy removal bit, the FX market had done better.
“I will say that the naira has done better than the pump price of the petroleum product. They were both policies hurriedly embarked upon without adequate preparation. But in the case of the foreign exchange market, the necessary reforms have been done post-liberalisation and you have to commend the central bank governor and his team.
“He (Cardoso) was appointed three months after the harmonisation. He has tried to resolve the issue of lack of transparency in the market. There is more transparency and he has been very forthright about the arrears that he had inherited at the time, very open about how much they were repaying until they repaid everything, and the portion of it that was fraudulent.
“He has also opened the market to foster more inclusiveness. You have to applaud the current regime; they have abolished the ban on the 43 items, admitted Bureau De Change operators, and licensed International Money Transfer operators. Everyone deserves a seat at the table and it is not surprising that the rates have converged.”
Teriba, however, expressed concern about the persistent volatility in the market but expressed optimism that the CBN and the monetary policy committee would be able to get a handle on it.
“The only persistent concern with the FX is the volatility, which the central bank and the monetary policy committee are trying their best to deal with and will eventually be able to deal with. You cannot say that with the fuel subsidy removal reform,” he asserted.
A former Chief Economist for Zenith Bank, Marcel Okeke, described the floating of the naira as a calamity.
“It is one of the wrong policy initiatives of the government, especially coming so close to the removal of the fuel subsidy. The impact of the two policies has brought the economy to where we are today where we cannot see any light at the end of the tunnel.
“Floating the naira in June 2023 was like putting the naira in a wrestling ring with other currencies of the world like dollars, Pounds Sterling and others, it lost value and strength so much that it was almost on a tailspin,” he posited.
A Relationship Manager Of Corporate Banking at FSDH Merchant Bank Limited, Ayodele Akinwunmi, stated that some of the objectives of the reform had been achieved, which included the convergence of the segments of the market.
“The gap between the official and parallel market rates is now very narrow if not almost the same, so there is no roundtripping from one segment of the market to the other, which was one of the objectives.
“Also, there has been improved confidence from foreign investors in bringing money to the country. They have invested a lot in fixed-income securities and they have also tested the market to see whether they can exit the market after making a profit, and yes, they have been able to do that successfully.
“So, they have the confidence that if they bring in their money into the country, they are able to exit when they want to, which was one of the objectives of the reform,” he stated.
According to Akinwumi, it is to increase supply in the forex market.
“We need as a nation to grow our economy, to enable us to export more, not only for oil but also from non-oil sectors. We have solid minerals, agriculture, and manufacturing products, and we can add more value to the agricultural produce than the raw materials that we sell today. We need to make the economy more competitive, and security in the nation must improve, so that we do not import the things we can produce locally.
“With Dangote promising to supply PMS from next month, that means the import bill for petrol will drop significantly and if we can supply crude significantly, which I don’t think we should be able to,” he noted.
He stated that the project could meet local demand and even supply the West African market and some parts of Europe.
“He has been supplying fertilizer to America, Brazil, the Caribbean and parts of Europe and when you supply such, you are bringing in foreign exchange. What do we need to optimise the plant? Gas, which we have in abundance, is being flared. Whatever the government needs to do to make that project work, they need to do it,” he explained.
Meanwhile, the Economist Intelligence Unit has projected a stronger dollar this year and 2025, which may add to naira woes.
In its latest report titled ‘A stronger dollar for longer, predicting the effects on emerging markets’ the EIU said, “The dollar’s dominant role in international trade and finance prompts us to ask, how long can the global economy withstand above-average strength in the US dollar?
“In terms of financial crisis risk, emerging markets are more vulnerable, owing to a frequent dependence on external funding in major global reserve currencies–most often the US dollar–to finance public expenditure and plug shortfalls in the balance of payments. A stronger US dollar raises the local currency burden of repayments, compounding the impact of higher rates on the cost of borrowing.
“Moreover, these effects often play out against a backdrop of private sectors that are squeezed by tighter financing conditions; domestic central banks are obliged to keep local rates high amid tight US policy, and foreign investment is instead directed towards developed markets with higher returns. These trends serve to further undermine economic growth and government tax revenues.”
The dollar to naira rate keeps making headlines, and if you’re here, chances are you’re looking for today’s black market exchange rate – Wednesday, 7th May 2025. Whether you need to exchange dollars for business, personal use, or just want to stay updated, this post gives you the most accurate and up-to-date info on the dollar to naira rate in the parallel (Aboki) market.
We understand how quickly things can change in Nigeria’s forex market, so we’re committed to bringing you real-time figures and what’s influencing them.
What is the dollar-to-naira exchange rate on the black market, like the Aboki Fx?
The exchange rate for the US dollar (USD) to Nigerian Naira (NGN) in the parallel market, also known as black market, as of 7th May 2025, is N1,610 for 1 USD.
This rate is often sourced from the latest data provided by Bureau De Change (BDC) operators.
How much is a Dollar to Naira today in the Black Market?
What is the Dollar to Naira Exchange Rate at the Black Market, especially the Aboki Fx?
Because of the dynamics of supply and demand in the informal foreign exchange market, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) official rates often differ significantly from those in the black market.
As of today, 7th May 2025, the black market buying rate for the US dollar is N1,600 while the selling rate is N1,610.
These rates change from time to time during the day, influenced by various factors including economic conditions, market speculation, and government policies.
The dollar-to-naira exchange rate in the black market has continued to fluctuate, reflecting the economic challenges and forex shortages in Nigeria.
In contrast to the black market, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) maintains an official exchange rate. Today, the CBN rate for one dollar is N1,606.64.
The disparity between the official and black market rates highlights the pressure on the naira and the challenges in the country’s forex market.
Black Market Exchange Rate Today
Foreign Currency Buying rate Selling rate
DOLLAR ($USD) N1,600 N1,610
POUNDS STERLING (GBP) N2,120 N2,140
EURO (EUR) N1,780 1,800
CBN Exchange Rate Today
Foreign Currency Buying rate Selling rate
DOLLAR ($USD) N1,605.64 N1,606.64
POUNDS STERLING (GBP) N2,150.27 N2,151.61
EURO (EUR)
N1,823.68
N1,824.82
YUAN (CNY)
N222.49
N222.63
SAUDI RIYAL (SAR)
N428.07
N428.34
CRYPTOCURRENCY
At the time of posting
BITCOIN
1 BTC: NGN153M
1 NGN = 0.000000078BTC
ETHEREUM
1 ETH: NGN 2.9M
1 NGN: 0.00000034ETH
Variations in Forex Rates
Forex rates in Nigeria vary across different markets and platforms. The black market, official CBN rates, and rates offered by commercial banks and international money transfer operators all differ.
This discrepancy creates arbitrage opportunities and poses challenges for businesses and individuals needing foreign currency for legitimate transactions.
50 Dollars to Naira Today Black Market
For people looking to exchange 50 US dollars today, the rate in the black market will be approximately N80,000 if obtained at the buying rate of N1,600 per dollar.
For those buying from retailers, it would cost N80,500 at the selling rate of N1,610 per dollar.
100 Dollars to Naira Today Black Market
Exchanging 100 US dollars today in the black market will get you N160,000 if sold at the current buying rate.
For those purchasing dollars, it will cost them N161,000. This rate of increase no doubt affects businesses, travelers, and others who need dollars and other foreign currencies for overseas transactions.
500 Dollars to Naira Today Black Market
A larger transaction of 500 US dollars will result in N800,000 at the buying rate and N805,000 at the selling rate in the black market today.
The higher volumes reflect the ongoing need for dollars in the business community.
1,000 Dollars to Naira Today Black Market
For those who need up to 1000 US dollars, the black market will offer N1,600,000 at the buying rate and N1,610,000 at the selling rate.
The World Bank has disclosed that a staggering 75.5 per cent of rural Nigerians are now living below the poverty line, reflecting deepening hardship in the country’s hinterlands.
This was revealed in the Bank’s April 2025 Poverty and Equity Brief for Nigeria, which paints a grim picture of worsening economic hardship, widening inequality, and persistent underdevelopment across much of the nation.
While poverty is widespread among urban populations, the report emphasised that the situation is significantly worse in rural areas, where economic stagnation, high inflation, and insecurity have exacerbated living conditions.
“Based on the most recent official household survey data from Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics, 30.9 per cent of Nigerians lived below the international extreme poverty line of $2.15 per person per day in 2018/19 before the COVID-19 pandemic,” the report stated.
The report also highlighted Nigeria’s enduring regional disparities. “Nigeria remains spatially unequal. The poverty rate in northern geopolitical zones was 46.5 per cent in 2018/19, compared with 13.5 per cent for southern ones. Inequality measured by the Gini index was estimated at 35.1 in 2018/19.
“Nigeria’s Prosperity Gap — the average factor by which individuals’ incomes must be multiplied to attain a prosperity standard of $25 per day for all — is estimated at 10.2, higher than most peers.”
Despite successive policy interventions, these figures underscore a persistent economic divide across the country.
The report’s demographic analysis found that children aged 0 to 14 years had a poverty rate of 72.5 per cent, reflecting the scale of deprivation among the youngest segment of the population.
Gender disparities were also observed, with 63.9 per cent of females and 63.1 per cent of males classified as poor under the $3.65 per day lower-middle-income threshold.
Education emerged as a significant determinant of poverty, with Nigerians lacking formal education experiencing a poverty rate of 79.5 per cent. This contrasts with 61.9 per cent for those with primary education and 50.0 per cent for secondary school graduates. Only 25.4 per cent of those with tertiary education were considered poor.
The report also drew attention to multidimensional poverty indicators, which further reflect widespread deprivation.
According to the World Bank, about 30.9 per cent of Nigerians live on less than $2.15 daily, 32.6 per cent lack access to limited-standard drinking water, 45.1 per cent do not have limited-standard sanitation, and 39.4 per cent have no electricity.
Education access remains a challenge, with 17.6 per cent of adults yet to complete primary education, and 9.0 per cent of households reporting at least one school-aged child not enrolled in school.
The report noted that even before the COVID-19 pandemic, efforts to reduce extreme poverty had largely stalled.
“Before COVID-19, extreme poverty reduction had almost stagnated, dropping by only half a percentage point annually since 2010. Living standards of the urban poor are hardly improving, and jobs that would allow households to escape poverty are lacking,” the report read.
Although the World Bank acknowledged recent economic reforms aimed at stabilising Nigeria’s macroeconomic outlook, it warned that persistently high inflation continues to undermine household purchasing power, particularly in urban areas where incomes have not kept pace with rising costs.
In light of the worsening situation, the Bank called for urgent policy action to shield vulnerable groups from inflationary shocks and to drive job creation through more productive economic activities.
The Nigerian naira experienced a mild drop in value on Friday, closing at ₦1,602.18 per dollar in the official foreign exchange market, based on figures released by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
This marks a decrease of ₦5.49 from the rate of ₦1,596.69 recorded on April 30, the last trading day before the May 1 Workers’ Day holiday—indicating a depreciation of approximately 0.34%.
Earlier in the week, from Monday to Wednesday, the naira remained relatively stable, exchanging at ₦1,599.95, ₦1,599.71, and ₦1,596.69 respectively.
Although the local currency showed some consistency mid-week, it wrapped up the week with a loss, following a sligh dip of 0.02% at the beginning of the week
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