Business
Forex: Naira Rises As CBN Injects dollar
The Naira grew against the dollar at the interbank market last week, after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) raise the supply of the dollar by 50 per cent. The apex bank sold $300 million to end-users at N150 per dollar at the wholesale Dutch Auction System (WDAS) representing about $ 100 million increase over dollar sales in the past two months but short of $322.46 million demanded at the action.
The foreign exchange (forex) traders believed that the fact that CBN was able to meet the bulk of dollar demanded at its auction on Wednesday helped the naira to regain some ground at the interbank. They demand that dollars remained stronger, but expected some increase in supply of dollar by the CBN early this week.
The managing director and chief executive officer Digare BDC Limited, Mr Jelili Ajibola said that naira may further weaken if federal government implements the deregulation of the downstream petroleum sector of the economy.
His words: Nigerians should forget about deregulation of the oil sector as it will worsen our economy and devalue the naira more.
He said there are lots of interests in this campaign adding that the same politicians that are calling for deregulation would hoard petroleum products to increase prices in order to make abnormal profit when deregulation is finally implemented.
He also pointed out that with the relative stability in the Niger Delta, there is every tendency that oil production would increase thereby boosting the nation’s reserves.
He insisted that deregulation would further worsen the standard of living of the economically changed Nigerians.
Managing director and chief executive officer, Yomade BDC Limited, Usmand Suleiman said that deregulation would encourage inflation and that the poor would suffer the most. He stated that, even when workers salaries are increased, their pay would still not be able to cater for their needs. He added that, the prices of food stuff would skyrocket because fuel prices would definitely increase thereby affecting transportation fare.
He advised government to resuscitate the refineries and build new ones, provided social amenities such as stable power to encourage small and medium enterprise (SMEs) in the country.
Also speaking Adeboye Adenuga, managing director and chief executive officer, Dambis BDC Limited said that the reason for the appreciation of the naira over the dollar was due to falling demand for foreign exchange by the operator as they now find it difficult to access loan from banks.
Equally he added, that currency traders who used to sorrow from banks have started recalling facilities.
According to him, “The situation is affecting those with genuine business, as many of them no longer have access to naira to purchase foreign exchange for importation. This recent appreciation of the naira is due to the result of the CBN reform programmes in the banking sector.
He further wished that government should find a way of employing law enforcement agencies that would take charge in controlling the activities of the black marketers till sanity is restored in the forex business.
Mr Adeboye Adenuga added that the economy is not moving but people can no longer buy forex as much as before to import finished goods, noting that even those who travel to Dubai for trading purposes no longer do so, as many banks now find it difficult to support such trades. He advised that government should be able to develop local industries by improving infrastructure. Adenuga argued the aggregate supply for forex to the market is not enough also that there are lots of loopholes in the market which must be blocked to move the economy forward.
Aluka Anita O
Edun made the call while speaking at the 2025 Fellowship Investiture of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) in Lagos, where he reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to sustaining ongoing reforms and expanding access to finance as key drivers of economic growth beyond four per cent.
“We all know that monetary policy under Cardoso has stabilised the financial system in a most commendable way. Of course, it is a team effort, and those eye-watering interest rates have to be paid by the fiscal side. But the fight against inflation is one we all have to participate in,” he said.
The minister stressed the need for banks to broaden credit access and finance innovation-driven enterprises that can create jobs for young Nigerians.
“The finance and banking industry has more work to do because we must finance their ideas, deepen the capital and credit markets down to SMEs. They should not have to go to Silicon Valley,” he said.
The minister who described the private sector as the engine of growth, said the government’s reform agenda aims to create an enabling environment where businesses can thrive, access funding, and contribute meaningfully to job creation.
The facility, known as the Nigeria Actions for Investment and Jobs Acceleration (P512892), is a Development Policy Financing (DPF) operation scheduled for World Bank Board consideration on December 16, 2025.
According to the Bank’s concept note , the financing would comprise $500m in International Development Association (IDA) credit and $500m in International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) loan.
If approved, it would be the second-largest single loan Nigeria has received from the World Bank under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, following the $1.5 billion facility granted in June 2024 under the Reforms for Economic Stabilisation to Enable Transformation (RESET) initiative.
The World Bank said the new programme aims to support Nigeria’s shift from short-term macroeconomic stabilisation to sustainable, private sector–led growth.
“The proposed Development Policy Financing (DPF) supports Nigeria’s pivot from stabilization to inclusive growth and job creation. Structured as a two-tranche standalone operation of US$1.0 billion (US$500 million IDA credit and US$500 million IBRD loan), it seeks to catalyse private sector–led investment by expanding access to credit, deepening capital markets and digital services, easing inflationary pressures, and promoting export diversification,” the document read.
The document further stated that Nigeria’s private sector credit-to-GDP ratio stood at only 21.3 per cent in 2024, significantly below that of emerging-market peers, while capital markets remain shallow, with sovereign securities dominating the bond market.
To address these weaknesses, the DPF will support the implementation of the Investment and Securities Act 2025, operationalisation of credit-enhancement facilities, and introduction of a comprehensive Central Bank of Nigeria rulebook to strengthen risk-based regulation and consumer protection.
The operation also includes measures to deepen digital inclusion through the passage of the National Digital Economy and E-Governance Bill 2025, which will establish a legal framework for electronic transactions, authentication services, and digital records.
Beyond the financial and digital sectors, the programme targets reforms to lower production and living costs by tackling Nigeria’s restrictive trade regime. High tariffs and import bans have long driven up consumer prices and constrained competitiveness, particularly for manufacturers and farmers.
Under the proposed reforms, Nigeria would adopt AfCFTA tariff concessions, rationalise import restrictions, and simplify agricultural seed certification to increase the supply of high-quality varieties for maize, rice, and soybeans. The World Bank projects that these measures will help reduce food inflation, attract private investment, and enhance export potential.
The operation is part of a broader World Bank FY26 package that includes three complementary projects—Fostering Inclusive Finance for MSMEs (FINCLUDE), Building Resilient Digital Infrastructure for Growth (BRIDGE), and Nigeria Sustainable Agricultural Value-Chains for Growth (AGROW)—all focused on expanding access to finance, strengthening institutions, and mobilising private capital.