By Favour Pius
Nigeria recorded foreign exchange inflows of $112 billion in 2025, with autonomous sources accounting for the largest share of transactions in the country’s foreign exchange market, reflecting growing investor confidence and improved diaspora remittances.
Data released by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) showed that inflows from autonomous channels, including foreign portfolio investments, diaspora remittances, export proceeds and other private sector sources, significantly outweighed official interventions during the year under review.
The development comes amid ongoing reforms in the foreign exchange market aimed at boosting liquidity, narrowing exchange rate disparities and attracting foreign capital into the economy.
Analysts said the dominance of autonomous inflows indicates a gradual recovery in market confidence following policy adjustments by the monetary authorities, including exchange rate liberalisation and tighter monetary measures introduced to stabilise the naira.
According to the figures, autonomous inflows contributed the bulk of the $112 billion recorded during the period, while inflows from the CBN and other official sources represented a smaller proportion of total market supply.
Market operators noted that increased participation by exporters, international investors and Nigerians in the diaspora helped improve liquidity across the foreign exchange market and reduced pressure on the local currency in parts of the year.
The improved inflows also coincided with higher crude oil receipts, stronger non-oil export earnings and renewed foreign investor appetite for Nigerian fixed-income securities following elevated interest rates.
Economic experts, however, cautioned that sustaining the momentum would depend on consistent policy implementation, improved oil production levels and stronger macroeconomic stability.
They stressed the need for the government to deepen structural reforms, enhance foreign investor confidence and expand non-oil exports to ensure long-term resilience in the foreign exchange market.
The CBN has maintained that ongoing reforms are designed to create a transparent and market-driven foreign exchange system capable of supporting economic growth and improving external reserves.
