Naira falls to N1,329.86/$ at official market as reserves stand at $54.61bn

The naira extended its depreciation against the United States dollar at the official foreign exchange market on Wednesday. CBN foreign exchange data showed the Nigerian naira weakened further to N1,329.86 per dollar, from N1,329.15 on Tuesday.

That means the naira declined slightly by N0.71 against the dollar on a day-to-day basis at the official FX market. At the black market, the naira remained flat against the dollar at the same rate recorded since Monday.

Official market movement

The CBN data showed the naira weakened at the official window after a decline on Tuesday. The data also showed the naira declined against the USD for the first time on Tuesday before the Wednesday movement.

The official rate is the benchmark used for formal foreign exchange transactions. The N0.71 daily change reflects a small but continued slide in the value of the naira against the dollar at that window.

Reserves and US Fed decision

The country's external reserves stood at $54.61 billion as of September 14, 2026, according to data from the Central Bank of Nigeria. The reserves figure came as the naira continued its depreciation at the official market.

The depreciation of the Nigerian naira comes as the US Federal Reserve raised interest rates by 25 basis points for the first time since 2023. Higher US rates can strengthen the dollar and add pressure on emerging market currencies, including the naira.

What it means for Nigerian businesses

For Nigerian businesses, a weaker official exchange rate means more naira is needed to buy the same dollar for imports and other foreign obligations. The black market rate remained unchanged, but the official market movement still affects formal FX transactions and pricing for dollar-denominated goods.