The Nigerian foreign exchange market commenced this week with the Naira showing mixed stability across both the official window and the parallel market on Tuesday, December 16, 2025.
According to real-time data from the official Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM), the Naira concluded the early trading session at a rate of ₦1,452.27 per US Dollar.
This figure reflects the central bank’s continuous efforts to stabilize the official rate, keeping it within a narrow range compared to previous weeks. Trading activity on the NFEM was noted to be between approximately ₦1,451.19 and ₦1,452.57 during the initial hours.
Information gathered from Bureau De Change (BDC) operators and street traders, who participate in the parallel market, indicated a slight deviation from the official rate.
The parallel market recorded the US Dollar trading at an average of roughly ₦1,465 to ₦1,475 today for cash transactions. This rate illustrates the ongoing imbalance of demand and supply in the unofficial segment of the market, largely driven by foreign exchange requirements for small businesses and individuals not entirely met by the NFEM. The slight premium in the black market remains a concern for market analysts.
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Currency experts attribute the relative stability in the official window to a mix of heightened liquidity injections by the Central Bank and a general decline in corporate FX demand as the year comes to a close. However, the premium retained by the parallel market suggests that persistent structural challenges and speculative trading continue to put pressure on the Naira.
The market remains cautious as participants keep an eye on future policy decisions by the monetary authorities, aimed at unifying the exchange rates and addressing inflationary pressures.
