As at today Friday 9th May 2025, the exchange rates today witnesssed a dip, the naira continues to face strong headwinds in the foreign exchange market, reflecting a complex balance between economic realities and energy sector developments.
The exchange rates today both official and parallel highlight persistent challenges in accessing forex and the gradual impact of reforms in the oil and gas industry.
Official Exchange Rates Today: CBN Holds Steady
According to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and verified financial platforms, the official exchange rates today are:
- USD/NGN: ₦1,624.30
- GBP/NGN: ₦2,150.00
- EUR/NGN: ₦1,800.00
These official rates reflect the CBN’s recent push to stabilise the market through structured interventions and renewed confidence in the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEM). Measures such as clearing FX backlogs and enforcing transparency are gradually restoring investor trust.
Parallel Market Rates Today: Wider Gaps Persist
In contrast, the parallel market or black market continues to trade at higher rates, driven by demand-supply imbalances and speculative pressure.
- USD/NGN: Buy – ₦1,630.00 | Sell – ₦1,640.00
- GBP/NGN: Buy – ₦2,170.00 | Sell – ₦2,200.00
- EUR/NGN: Buy – ₦1,840.00 | Sell – ₦1,860.00
These rates show a clear spread of ₦15–₦50 above official benchmarks, a gap that reflects structural inefficiencies and restricted access to official forex windows. Traders in Wuse Zone 4 (Abuja), Victoria Island (Lagos), Victoria Street ( Port-Harcourt) report brisk demand, particularly from importers and SMEs.
Naira Outlook: Economic Context and Currency Volatility
Since late 2024, the naira has shown sharp fluctuations, peaking at ₦1,738.74/USD in November and briefly rebounding to ₦1,490.00 in February 2025. In early May, stability returned, with the naira hovering around ₦1,600, ₦1,630 thanks to rising oil prices and stronger production output.
However, external pressures including U.S.-China trade tensions and U.S. Federal Reserve policy shifts continue to weigh on emerging market currencies like the naira. Local inflationary risks also persist, threatening purchasing power if forex volatility endures.
Oil and Gas Sector: A Foundation for Recovery
The oil and gas sectors remains a key pillar in stabilising the naira. Recent developments have been promising:
1. Increased Crude Production
Nigeria’s output in July 2024 increased substantially, strengthening dollar inflows. The rise supports the CBN’s FX reserves and reduces volatility in official rates.
2. Seplat Energy Gas Supply Deal
A new deal with Seplat Energy raised gas supplies to the Nigeria LNG plant by 12%, unlocking further export earnings and dollar liquidity.
3. Policy Reforms and Refinery Optimisation
President Bola Tinubu’s deregulation agenda especially the removal of fuel subsidies and operationalisation of Dangote Refinery is expected to cut fuel imports and conserve foreign exchange over time.
These gains offer medium-term hope that exchange rates today may narrow between official and parallel markets, especially if reforms remain consistent.
Exchange Rate Challenges: Risks to Watch
Despite optimistic trends in the energy space, several hurdles remain:
- Limited FDI inflows due to bureaucracy and policy inconsistency
- Heavy reliance on crude oil as the sole forex earner
- Persistent black market dominance in retail forex trade
- Inflationary risks that could be worsened by naira depreciation
FMCG firms report profit recovery thanks to early-May naira stability, but inflation hovering near 31% remains a key macroeconomic concern.
CBN’s Strategy: Market-Driven Reforms Underway
Under Governor Olayemi Cardoso, the CBN has pushed for transparency and consistency in rate management. His strategy includes liberalising the FX market, improving rate convergence, and easing access to NAFEM channels.
Still, experts argue that deeper institutional reforms are required to truly tame parallel market dominance and unlock long-term naira stability.
Exchange Rates Today Reflect Hope and Uncertainty
As of May 9, 2025, exchange rates today show a country at a crossroads. While the oil and gas sector offers real promise for the naira’s future, structural flaws, external shocks, and demand-side constraints keep the parallel market active.
For now, Nigerians and investors must monitor both CBN policy updates and global crude oil trends to gauge the naira’s likely direction.
