Naira strengthens to N1,369.63/$ at official window but weakens on parallel market
By Aboki Forex —
The Nigerian naira appreciated against the US dollar at the official foreign exchange window on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, trading at N1,369.6346 per dollar. Data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) shows the currency gained N5.67 compared to the previous day's rate of N1,375.3083.
Official market gains
According to figures posted on the CBN's official platform, the naira traded at the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM) rate of N1,369.6346 per dollar on Wednesday and closed at N1,369.0000 per dollar. On Tuesday, July 21, 2026, the NFEM rate had stood at N1,375.3083, meaning the currency strengthened by at least N5.67 by the close of Wednesday's trading.
Parallel market slides
At the parallel market, the story was different. Both the buying rate and the selling rate depreciated by N3 when compared to Tuesday's trading. According to AbokiFX, the naira-to-dollar exchange rate on the black market on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, stood at N1,405 per dollar for the buying rate and N1,410 per dollar for the selling rate.
What this means for the naira and businesses
The widening gap between the official and parallel market rates signals continued pressure on the naira outside the formal window. While the CBN's official rate shows modest strengthening, the black market depreciation suggests that demand for dollars remains high among businesses and individuals who cannot access the official market. This divergence could complicate pricing for importers and may keep pressure on consumer prices in the days ahead.