Nigeria’s naira has recorded a 9.16 per cent acquire in opposition to the greenback within the final six months, strengthening from N1,605 to the greenback in April 2025 to N1,457.95 as of October 24, 2025, on the official market. This displays renewed investor confidence pushed by current macroeconomic reforms and worldwide recognition of Nigeria’s bettering monetary atmosphere.
In response to knowledge on the web site of the Central Financial institution of Nigeria (CBN), the worth of the naira has appreciated by N147.05 inside the previous six months on the official market. The appreciation was additionally evident on the black market, the place the worth of the naira elevated by 6.83 per cent, or N110, over the previous six months.
On the streets, the naira’s worth appreciated to N1,500 to the greenback in comparison with N1,610, which it bought to the greenback as of April 25, 2025. This reveals a narrowing change price disparity and improved liquidity throughout buying and selling home windows.
The momentum was lifted following Nigeria’s elimination from the Monetary Motion Process Power (FATF) gray record final week. This milestone restored international confidence within the nation’s monetary integrity and anti-money laundering framework.
In response to the Chief Government Officer of Monetary Derivatives Firm, Mr Bismarck Rewane, delisting from the FATF gray record instantly impacted the market. “It means an entire lot. The naira and rand have gained nearly one per cent because the information. It’s now N1,490 within the parallel market,” he stated.
The FATF delisting got here after Nigeria efficiently carried out a two-year Motion Plan to strengthen its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing techniques. The chief govt of the Nigerian Financial Summit Group (NESG), Dr Tayo Aduloju, had applauded the efforts of the CBN, NFIU, and EFCC in restoring compliance and credibility.
Equally, the chief govt officer of Paga, Mr Tayo Oviosu, described the FATF transfer as a “huge deal” that will open Nigeria as much as renewed overseas direct funding and international partnerships. “This opens up the nation for FDI and engagement from the West, particularly,” Oviosu added.
The FATF choice’s influence on investor confidence bolstered sentiments initiated by FTSE Russell’s announcement, including Nigeria to its Watch Listing for doable reclassification to Frontier Market standing. The worldwide index compiler said that Nigeria now meets the 5 High quality of Markets standards after clearing its overseas change backlogs and bettering capital repatriation for overseas traders.
In response to the 2025 FTSE Annual Fairness Nation Classification Evaluate, international institutional traders confirmed that the nation’s overseas change queues had been cleared, with no vital delays in fund repatriation since early 2025.
“Market individuals have reported that the aforementioned FX queues had been cleared and that worldwide institutional traders are not experiencing any materials delays of their capability to repatriate capital from Nigeria,” the FTSE report said.
The nation’s inclusion on the record marked a possible turning level for Nigeria, which was downgraded to “Unclassified” standing in 2023 on account of extreme overseas change distortions and illiquidity. Since then, the Central Financial institution below Governor Olayemi Cardoso has carried out sweeping reforms, together with change price unification, backlog clearance, and real-time FX market transparency measures.
Analysts at Cowry Belongings Administration count on the naira to stay comparatively secure, supported by regular oil receipts and gradual reserve build-up. “Within the coming week, we count on the naira to expertise gentle stress as FX demand persists amid restricted liquidity,” they stated. “Nonetheless, regular oil receipts and a gradual build-up in exterior reserves may help the native forex.”
