Nigeria net foreign exchange flows reach $22.5bn in Q2 2026

Nigeria’s net foreign exchange flows rose to $22.50 billion in the second quarter of 2026, marking the highest quarterly level since the fourth quarter of 2019. According to Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) data, the increase was driven by a sharper decline in outflows compared to inflows.

Total inflows for the quarter reached $31.43 billion, while outflows dropped to $8.93 billion from $11.05 billion in the previous quarter. Autonomous sources, which represent inflows outside of CBN channels, provided the majority of the capital, contributing $23.31 billion or approximately 74.15% of the total—the highest share in 13 years.

Additionally, remittance inflows through International Money Transfer Operators (IMTOs) hit a record $1.57 billion during the same period. This represents a 33% increase from the $1.18 billion recorded in the second quarter of 2025. The surge in remittances was primarily fueled by strong performance in May and June, with June recording the highest monthly inflow of the quarter.