CBN Reports $6.31bn Foreign Portfolio Inflows in 2026

Between January and August 2026, net foreign portfolio inflows in Nigeria rose to $6.31 billion, as disclosed by Dr. Muhammad Sani Abdullahi, the Deputy Governor of Corporate Services at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), during a seminar for the Finance Correspondent Association of Nigeria (FICAN). He reported that remittances through International Money Transfer Operators reached $950 million in July 2026.

Of the total inflows of $10.82 billion recorded in July, $7.33 billion, or nearly 68 percent, originated from autonomous sources. Abdullahi highlighted that the foreign exchange market has shown greater stability over the past three years, with the average gap between official and parallel rates decreasing from 68.2 percent to less than 2 percent.

He emphasized the importance of banks having stronger capital buffers to support long-term infrastructure and compete effectively in global markets. Additionally, he stressed the need for banks to invest in fintech and cybersecurity as financial services increasingly transition to digital channels.