Forex inflow rises 36.5% to $33.76bn in five months
Nigeria’s Forex Inflows Increase by 36.5% in Early 2026
By Elizabeth Adegbesan
Nigeria’s net foreign exchange inflow surged by 36.5% year-on-year, reaching $33.76 billion in the first five months of 2026, compared to $24.72 billion during the same period in 2025.
This increase occurs as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) intensifies efforts to enhance the foreign exchange market’s liquidity and attract more investment through both official and private channels.
Data from the CBN’s monthly economic reports revealed that total forex inflow rose by 8% to $50.05 billion in January through May 2026, up from $46.34 billion in the same months of 2025.
Contrastingly, forex outflow decreased by 24.6%, falling to $16.29 billion from $21.62 billion noted in the previous year.
Further analysis indicates that inflows via the CBN climbed 2.75% to $15.30 billion, compared to $14.89 billion in 2025. Meanwhile, inflows from autonomous sources increased by 10.5%, reaching $34.76 billion from $31.45 billion.
Outflows from the CBN also saw a significant drop of 36.3%, reducing to $10.50 billion from $16.51 billion year-on-year. However, outflows from autonomous sources rose by 14.6%, totaling $5.78 billion compared to $5.04 billion in 2025.
The result was a net forex inflow of $28.97 billion from autonomous sources in 2026, an increase from $26.40 billion in 2025. The CBN registered a net inflow of $4.80 billion, up from $4.29 billion during the same period last year.
Overall, the latest figures have contributed to a stronger net forex position for the country, driven by increased inflows and decreased outflows. The CBN has implemented measures in recent years to promote transparency and encourage broader participation in the forex market among banks and authorized operators.
