Naira Records Biggest Daily Gain in 2026, Reserves Top $45B

The Nigerian Naira posted its largest single-day gain of 2026 on Tuesday, strengthening against the U.S. dollar in the official foreign exchange market.

According to data from the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Naira closed at ₦1,419.07 per dollar, up from ₦1,429.31 on Monday, representing a daily gain of ₦10.24. This marks the strongest daily performance for the currency since official trading began this year.

In contrast, the Naira remained unchanged in the parallel market, trading at ₦1,480 per dollar, as reported by multiple Bureau De Change operators in Wuse Zone 4, Abuja.

The rise in the Naira comes alongside a modest increase in Nigeria’s external reserves, which reached $45.61 billion as of January 5, up from $45.57 billion recorded on January 2. Analysts say the combination of growing reserves and ongoing policy measures by the Central Bank is helping to support the currency’s recovery.

The CBN’s interventions and positive market sentiment are expected to continue influencing the Naira’s performance in the coming weeks, with experts monitoring both official and parallel exchange rates closely.