CBN: Foreign Exchange Inflows Rose 13.8% to Record $109.8 Billion in 2025

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) reported a record $109.86 billion in foreign exchange inflows for 2025, marking a 13.8% increase from the previous year. This surge was primarily fueled by autonomous inflows, including non-oil exports, capital imports, and over-the-counter purchases, according to the CBN's 2025 Annual Report.

Overall foreign exchange outflows also rose by 27.83% to $49.05 billion. However, the economy still recorded a stronger net foreign exchange inflow of $60.81 billion in 2025, compared to $58.16 billion in 2024. This indicates a positive trend in the country's balance of payments.

The report also highlighted the continued expansion of Nigeria's digital payment ecosystem. The value of electronic payment transactions climbed to N3.46 quadrillion in 2025. Concurrently, losses from electronic fraud saw a significant decline, dropping by 50.5% to N25.85 billion.

Cross-border transactions settled through the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) also experienced substantial growth, reaching $143.40 million during the year. This suggests increased intra-African trade and financial integration.

While inflows through the CBN decreased slightly by 2.08% to $39.32 billion, largely due to lower receipts from government debt and FX swaps, inflows through autonomous sources surged by 25.12% to $70.54 billion. This growth in autonomous inflows, particularly from non-oil exports and capital importation, underscores a diversifying economy. Outflows through autonomous channels also rose significantly, contributing to the overall increase in outflows.