The Nigerian naira appreciated against the US dollar at the official market on Thursday, August 13, 2026, as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) removed key restrictions on banks' access to its lending window. The naira closed at N1,357.65 per dollar at the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM), a gain of N2.93 or 0.22% from the N1,360.58 recorded on Wednesday.
Naira Gains Against Pound and Euro
At the GTBank forex desk, the currency also firmed by N3 to N1,367 per dollar. In the parallel market, however, the naira held steady at N1,395 per dollar, leaving the gap between the two segments at roughly 2.75%.
The naira's gains were not limited to the dollar. Against the pound sterling, it rose by N6.94 to close at N1,834.05 per pound, while it gained N5.01 against the euro to trade at N1,567.00 per euro at the official market.
Interbank Turnover Falls Sharply
Despite the positive exchange rate movement, interbank foreign exchange turnover fell sharply by 53.13% to $79.09 million on Thursday, down from $168.76 million on Wednesday. The number of deals dropped from 190 to 98, a decline of 48.42%. This followed a surge in activity on Wednesday, when total NFEM turnover jumped 228.38% to $607.47 million from $184.99 million on Tuesday.
Nigeria's Reserves Hit 17-Year High
A key factor underpinning the naira's recent performance is the continuing rise in Nigeria's external reserves, which reached $52.19 billion as of August 12, 2026. That figure marks a 17-year high and represents a 28.39% increase from the $40.65 billion recorded during the same period in 2025, according to CBN data.
The CBN said it had removed restrictions that previously barred banks participating in the NFEM and primary auctions of government securities from accessing its Standing Lending Facility, also known as the Discount Window. Under the revised framework, banks can now engage in both foreign exchange transactions and government securities auctions without forfeiting access to CBN liquidity support. The changes also cover Tenored Repo Operations and Open Market Operations participation.
The apex bank said the reforms are designed to improve money market functioning, strengthen how monetary policy decisions flow through the financial system, and encourage broader market activity.
Analysts See Positive Impact
Analysts at Quest Merchant Bank Limited said the measures are likely to attract more participants to the fixed-income market and improve overall liquidity conditions. They added that the reforms reflect growing confidence in the stability of Nigeria's foreign exchange market and the adequacy of its reserves, both of which could help support a steadier naira exchange rate in the sessions ahead.
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that the naira has remained relatively stable against the United States dollar as reforms and improved liquidity continue to shape the foreign exchange market. The Central Bank of Nigeria has said the recent stability of the naira is being driven by market forces and increased liquidity, rather than artificial support from the apex bank.
CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso disclosed this on Wednesday while briefing journalists in Abuja after the Monetary Policy Committee meeting. The latest data and policy changes underscore the central bank's commitment to a market-driven exchange rate regime, with reserves at their highest level in 17 years providing a buffer for continued stability.
