The exchange rate stabilised in the FX market as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), defended the local currency with $360 million, stemming a negative tide from increased demand for the US dollar.

Olayemi Cardoso, Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria

According to Market Forces Africa, for most part of the week, the naira experienced heightened volatility due to an FX liquidity shortage in the official window, brought forward from the previous week.

This caused the exchange rate to wobble against the US dollar, but late picked up as inflows into the market improved.

On Friday, the naira rebounded against the dominant foreign currency, the US dollar, in last-minute transactions supported by a relatively higher liquidity supply by the monetary authority.

The exchange rate appreciated by about 2% to settle at N1,517.93 in the official market on Friday after persistent negative volatile.

Spot FX data from the regulator showed that the naira gained N29.89 on the day following FX sales to banks.

The market liquidity was also supported by additional inflows from foreign sources and reduced demand for foreign payments.

FX interventions and inflows from offshore clients and local corporations boosted volume of US dollar in the official window, AIICO Capital Limited dropped the hint in an investors note.

In the market, demand pressure persisted, leading to fluctuations in the US dollar to naira exchange rate for most of the week.

The CBN sold $188.10 million to banks, the last auction offered at the range of N1,532.00 to N1,540.00, bringing the total FX sales for the week to $360.00 million, according to investment banking firm TrustBanc Financial Group Limited.

Despite these interventions, demand outpaced supply, causing the naira to depreciate. By the end of the week, the market recorded improved liquidity, with trades ranging between N1,480 and N1,548.

Data from the CBN revealed that Nigeria’s external reserves increased by USD12.06 million to USD38.36 billion after 9 consecutive weeks of decline. In the forwards market, the naira rates decreased by 0.6% for a one-month contract to N1, 577.80.

FirstBank has formally denied allegations of fraud in an ongoing court case filed by customer Dr. Agbai Eke, describing the claims as “entirely unfounded and false.”

According to a statement from the bank, their internal investigation points to “unprofessional and unethical dealings” between Dr. Eke and a former bank employee.

FirstBank claims these individuals used a personal relationship to conduct unauthorised transactions without the bank’s knowledge or involvement.

The bank said it has reported the matter to law enforcement authorities for further investigation.

Officials noted that suspects have already provided statements to investigators.

FirstBank also declined to provide additional details, citing the ongoing court proceedings.

“We will refrain from further comments to allow the Court to dispassionately determine the issues before it,” the bank stated.

The case gained public attention following reports by Thisday Newspaper and Arise Television, as well as through a circulating video regarding the legal dispute.

Nigeria is undergoing a significant shift toward digital payment methods, with cash payments projected to decline by 32 percent by 2030, according to Worldpay’s Global Payment Report 2024 (GPR).

This is because access to financial services in remote areas via smartphones has transformed millions of people’s access to the global economy.

According to the report, Nigeria led Middle Eastern and African countries in cash dominance for point-of-sale transactions, accounting for 40 percent of 2024 PoS value from 91 percent in 2019.

The report said the use of cash in Nigeria is higher when compared to the MEA region including Saudi Arabia with 22 percent in 2024, South Africa (30 percent), and the UAE (17 percent).

“Over the past decade, Nigeria has witnessed progress in financial inclusion. According to the World Bank, the percentage of banked Nigerians increased from 30 percent in 2011 to 45 percent in 2021. Similarly, South Africa’s banked population grew from 54 percent in 2011 to 85 percent in 2021,” it said.

The Nigerian Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) reported that the number of active bank accounts surged to 311 million in 2024, further underscoring the country’s rapid financial transformation.

The global report disclosed that account-to-account (A2A) transfers via the NIBSS Instant Payments (NIP) have emerged as the leading e-commerce payment method in Nigeria.

Furthermore, A2A payments via NQR are now the second most popular payment method at the PoS, trailing only cash. This surge in A2A usage underscores the growing adoption of instant payment systems in the country.

Recent data shows that electronic payment transactions in Nigeria rose to an all-time high of N1.07 quadrillion in 2024. This is a 79.6 percent increase from the N600 trillion recorded in 2023.

Beyond transaction value, the volume of e-payments also saw a substantial increase. The total number of transactions processed by NIBSS rose from 9.7 billion in 2023 to 11.2 billion in 2024, representing a 15.5 percent year-on-year growth.

Also, PoS transactions soared to N19.4 trillion in 2024, marking an 81 percent increase from N10.73 trillion in 2023.

Industry experts attributed the surge in electronic transactions to a combination of factors, including the cash scarcity experienced in early 2023 and the continued implementation of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) cashless policy.

The GPR report highlights MEA’s progress in digital payments, with e-commerce transactions accounting for 29 percent of total value in 2014. By 2024, digital payments represented 49 percent, nearly matching the combined value of cash and card transactions (51 percent). By 2030, digital payments are expected to dominate e-commerce, making up 65 percent of transaction value.

“The shift is even more pronounced at PoS. In 2014, digital payments accounted for only 1 percent of PoS transaction value. By 2024, they had grown to one-third of the market. Worldpay projects that by 2030, digital payments will account for 47 percent of PoS transaction value, nearly equalling traditional cash and card payments,” it said.