CBN Absorbs N2.5 Trillion in OMO Auction Amid Demand

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has intensified its liquidity-tightening measures, absorbing approximately N2.5 trillion from the financial system through its latest Open Market Operations (OMO) auction held on September 16, 2026. This move aims to curb excess liquidity and stabilize monetary conditions.

The auction attracted overwhelming investor demand, totaling about N3 trillion, which was three times the N1 trillion initially offered by the CBN. The auction featured bills across three maturities: 69 days, 90 days, and 153 days, with demand significantly exceeding supply.

The CBN sold about N2.5 trillion worth of bills, effectively removing a substantial amount of cash from circulation. Despite the high demand, stop rates on the instruments closed below the 20% mark, with the 69-day bill clearing at 19.25%, and the 90-day and 153-day instruments allotted at 19.05% and 18.39%, respectively.

The strong investor response indicates continued confidence in high-yield government securities amid elevated interest rates and economic uncertainty.