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Feb 18, 2026
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) spent approximately $7.8 billion in 2025 on foreign exchange (FX) liquidity management, according to economists at Stanbic IBTC Asset Management Limited. The disclosure was made during the bank’s “Nigeria 2026 Economic Outlook” webinar held on 10 February 2026, as analysts outlined monetary and external sector developments shaping the macroeconomic landscape. The interventions were aimed at stabilising the Nigerian naira and supporting the liberalised FX framework following periods of heightened volatility. Nearly half of the total interventions occurred between March and May 2025 a timeframe marked by sharp exchange rate pressures and market uncertainty, the economists said.
According to Stanbic IBTC analysts led by Mr Abdulazeez Kuranga, the CBN’s $7.8 billion FX interventions helped supply foreign currency into the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEM), narrowing disparities in exchange rates and supporting confidence among market participants.
Within this total, about 47 per cent of sales occurred between March and May 2025, reflecting the apex bank’s response to negative sentiment and depreciation pressures in that period. During these months, the CBN intensified dollar sales to smooth volatility and prevent sharp currency dislocations.
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Analysts have raised concerns about the Federal Government of Nigeria’s plan to sell selected state-owned assets and enterprises in 2026, arguing that the initiative appears to emphasise short-term revenue generation for the budget rather than comprehensive structural reform and efficiency improvements.
The government’s announcement that it will begin divesting certain public assets as part of broader economic reforms has prompted debate among economists and public policy experts about the framing and strategic intent of the programme. While asset sales can be a viable tool for raising funds and reducing the fiscal burden, observers caution that framing the policy principally as a deficit-financing measure could undermine broader goals such as improving institutional performance, operational optimisation and value realisation.
United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc has unveiled a comprehensive diaspora banking and investment platform aimed at connecting Africans living and working around the world with structured opportunities for investment, wealth creation and cross-border financial engagement. The initiative marks a strategic shift from traditional remittance services toward long-term prosperity for the global African community.
The platform was launched at UBA’s global headquarters in Lagos under the theme “Beyond Banking: Powering the Global African Lifestyle”, bringing together executives from banking, investment, insurance, pensions, real estate and healthcare sectors to demonstrate an integrated financial ecosystem designed for diaspora needs.
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The Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee has formally rejected claims circulating on social media that the Nigeria Tax Act 2025 imposes a twenty-five per cent tax on building materials, construction funds or bank funds. In an official statement on Sunday, the committee clarified that the allegations which originated from a viral video by former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi are inaccurate and not reflected in the enacted tax law.
