Naira falls to N1,381/$ as foreign reserves hit $51.74 billion
By Aboki Forex —
The naira weakened against the United States dollar at the official foreign exchange market last week, closing at N1,381.70 per dollar. Nigeria's foreign reserves meanwhile climbed to $51.74 billion, the highest level in years.
Naira loses ground at official market
The local currency depreciated at the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEM) window, settling at N1,381.70/$1. This represents a decline from previous levels, reflecting continued pressure on the naira despite ongoing reforms in the foreign exchange market.
Foreign reserves hit multi-year high
Despite the drop in the naira's value, Nigeria's external reserves continued their upward trajectory. The reserves rose to $51.74 billion, marking the highest figure recorded in several years. The increase is attributed to improved oil revenues and other foreign exchange inflows into the economy.
The Central Bank of Nigeria has been implementing measures to stabilise the currency and boost reserves. The sustained rise in reserves provides the apex bank with more firepower to intervene in the forex market when necessary.
What this means for the naira and consumers
The divergence between a falling naira and rising reserves highlights the persistent demand pressure in the forex market. While higher reserves are a positive signal for Nigeria's external position, the naira's continued slide means higher import costs for businesses and more expensive goods and services for consumers. The outlook for the currency will depend on sustained dollar inflows and the effectiveness of CBN policies in narrowing the gap between official and parallel market rates.