Overseas currency investments see 18% decline, totaling $61.3 billion

Nigeria's net foreign exchange inflow plummeted by 18.3 per cent year-on-year to $61.29 billion in the eleven months ended November 2025, down from $69.61 billion in the corresponding period of 2024, due to a decline in inflows through the Central Bank of Nigeria and autonomous sources.

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This downturn was precipitated by a 25.2 percent and 3.5 percent decline in inflows through the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, and autonomous sources, respectively.

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Total forex inflows into the economy decreased by 12.3 percent to $102.51 billion in the eleven months period, compared with $116.99 billion in the corresponding period of 2024.

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Conversely, forex outflows fell to $41.26 billion in 11M’25, from $47.35 billion in the corresponding period of 2024, marking a notable decline.

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A closer examination of the data revealed that forex inflows through CBN dropped sharply by 25.2 per cent year-on-year to $35.55 billion in 11M’25, from $47.54 billion in 11M’24.

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Inflows through autonomous sources also declined slightly by 3.5 per cent year-on-year, to $66.97 billion from $69.45 billion.

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On the outflow side, forex outflows through CBN fell by 21.7 per cent year-on-year to $29.72 billion in 11M’25, from $37.98 billion in 11M’24.

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However, outflows through autonomous sources rose by 18.8 per cent year-on-year to $11.54 billion, compared with $9.36 billion in 11M’24.

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As a result, net forex flow through CBN declined significantly by 39 per cent year-on-year to $5.83 billion, from $9.56 billion in the corresponding period of 2024.

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Net flows through autonomous sources also dropped by 7.7 per cent year-on-year to $55.42 billion from $60.09 billion.

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According to the CBN Monthly Economic report, the net forex inflow declined by 33 percent month-on-month to $5.28 billion in November 2025, following a decline in overall forex inflow and an increase in outflow in the review period.

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The report highlighted that foreign exchange flows through the economy resulted in a net inflow of $5.28 billion, compared with $7.91 billion in October.

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Aggregate foreign exchange inflow decreased to $8.80 billion, from $10 billion in October, while aggregate foreign exchange outflow increased to $3.52 billion, from $2.09 billion in the preceding month.