Dollar to Naira Exchange Rate Today — Friday, December 26, 2025

Lagos, Nigeria — The value of the United States dollar (USD) against the Nigerian naira (NGN) remained elevated but comparatively stable across both official and informal foreign exchange markets on Friday, December 26, 2025.

Ejes Gist News reports that amid reduced trading activity following the Christmas holiday, the naira held its position with limited volatility, reflecting subdued demand and seasonal liquidity inflows.

Official Exchange Rate (Formal FX Channels)

• Central Bank of Nigeria / NFEM Indicator Rate: Market data shows that 1 USD exchanged at approximately ₦1,450 to ₦1,460 across formal channels, including the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM) and official interbank windows. ([FX Rate][2])
• Official rates continue to provide benchmark pricing for corporates, importers, exporters, and other formal foreign exchange transactions.
• Analysts attribute this relative firmness to ongoing Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) interventions and improved foreign exchange inflows, including seasonal remittances that have boosted market liquidity.

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Parallel / Black Market Exchange Rates

• Informal Market (Aboki/BDC) Selling Rate: Bureau de Change operators and Aboki traders in major commercial centres such as Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Kano reported the dollar selling at approximately ₦1,496 per USD on Friday. ([TheCityCeleb][1])
• Buying Rate: Traders indicated buying rates ranging between ₦1,480 and ₦1,490 per USD, showing minimal movement from earlier days during the Christmas period.
• The gap between the informal market selling rate and official benchmarks reflects persistent structural challenges in FX accessibility, although the spread has narrowed compared with earlier periods in 2025.

Market Dynamics and Influences

Festive-Season Liquidity and Demand

Foreign exchange dealers reported that post-Christmas liquidity inflows helped offset upward pressure typically associated with peak holiday travel and import-related demand. This dynamic contributed to modest stabilization, particularly within the parallel market.

Foreign Inflows and Central Bank Measures

The relative resilience of the official dollar–naira rate in late December occurred against the backdrop of sustained CBN activity in the FX market. Traders and analysts link the stability to deliberate central bank operations aimed at narrowing the gap between official and informal rates, a long-standing source of volatility within Nigeria’s foreign exchange ecosystem.

Exchange Rate Trends in 2025

Data compiled throughout 2025 shows that the naira’s performance fluctuated significantly, peaking near ₦1,679 per dollar during periods of heightened market stress and strengthening to around ₦1,435 at its lowest point later in the year. Annual averages remained well above historical norms, underscoring persistent depreciation pressures over the course of the year.

Implications for Consumers and Businesses

• Importers and Formal Traders: Entities accessing official FX windows transacted at NFEM and interbank rates of approximately ₦1,450–₦1,460, influencing the pricing of imported goods, foreign-denominated debt servicing, and corporate hedging strategies. ([FX Rate][2])
• Individuals and Small-Scale FX Users: Many retail forex users and travellers continued to rely on the parallel market for cash transactions, where rates remained higher and varied slightly by location and dealer activity.
• Remittances and Diaspora Transfers: As diaspora remittance flows often settle at rates influenced by both official and informal markets, recipients may experience differences in naira value depending on the transfer channel used.

Outlook

As Nigeria moves into the final week of December and approaches early 2026, foreign exchange analysts expect the naira to trade within a ₦1,450 to ₦1,500 per USD corridor, barring major global economic shocks, crude oil price volatility, or significant domestic policy changes. Continued Central Bank engagement and liquidity management are expected to remain critical in sustaining stability across both official and parallel FX segments.