Today’s Dollar to Naira Rate: Dollar → Naira Snapshot Rate for 29 January 2026

Key points:

Official CBN (NFEM) Rate: ₦1,394 / USD
Black-Market Rate: ₦1,490 / USD
Drivers: Official-market reforms and improved liquidity conditions; Global U.S. dollar weakness providing external support; A temporary easing of pressure on the local currency.

Top Tools: CBN Official Website, Aboki Fx, Nairametrics

The Naira strengthened significantly at the official market on Wednesday, reaching ₦1,394/$1—its strongest level since May 2024. This historic appreciation reflects improving conditions at the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM), though it coincides with a widening gap to a 24-month high of ₦96 in the parallel market.

FAQ

What’s the gap between CBN & black-market rates? The premium has widened dramatically to ₦96, the largest gap since February 2025. This stark divergence underscores a major market distortion: while the official rate is appreciating due to reforms and global trends, intense demand and speculative pressures in the unofficial market are pulling it in the opposite direction.

Will the naira strengthen further? The official market shows strong near-term potential for stability or further gains, supported by reforms and a weak global dollar. However, the record-wide parallel market gap indicates that broader confidence is fragile and structural challenges around FX access remain deeply unresolved, which could limit overall economic benefits from the official appreciation.

How do oil prices affect rates? While not directly cited as the driver of this specific gain, stable oil revenues are a prerequisite for the improved liquidity conditions supporting the official market. The current situation highlights a complex dynamic: the Naira can appreciate in the official window due to policy and global factors, even while the parallel market, often a barometer of underlying dollar scarcity, shows severe strain.