Naira Heads for Best Annual Performance Since 2018 as Dollar Inflows Rise
By Aboki Forex —
Nigeria's currency is on course for its best annual showing in almost a decade, supported by rising dollar inflows from higher oil prices and remittances. Analysts project the naira will end the year at 1,290 per dollar, extending its 2025 gain to nearly 12%.
The naira closed at 1,328.92 per dollar on Wednesday, according to data cited in a Bloomberg survey. Four analysts polled by Bloomberg gave an average forecast of 1,290 per dollar for year-end, which would mark an 8% advance so far this year and almost 12% for the full period.
What is driving the naira
The expected appreciation is tied to stronger dollar inflows, partly from higher crude oil prices and increased remittances from Nigerians abroad. These inflows are helping to cushion the currency from political risks often linked to the country's election season, analysts said.
The projected year-end level would be the naira's strongest annual performance since at least 2018. That represents a sharp turnaround for a currency that has faced repeated pressure in recent years, including a collapse after exchange rate reforms and periods of acute dollar shortages.
What it means for businesses and consumers
A firmer naira could ease import costs for businesses and help slow the pass-through of currency weakness into domestic prices. For consumers, it may also reduce pressure on the cost of imported goods and services, though much depends on whether the inflows prove durable beyond the election period.