Net foreign‑exchange inflow falls 24% to $6.92 billion

By Elizabeth Adegbesan

Net foreign exchange (forex) inflow into the Nigerian economy fell 24 per cent month‑on‑month to $6.92 billion in February, down from $9.22 billion in January 2026.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) released this figure in its February 2026 monthly economic report.

The report explained that the decline in net forex was largely due to a 22.9 per cent month‑on‑month drop in foreign exchange inflow, which outweighed a 16.9 per cent month‑on‑month decline in foreign exchange outflow.

The CBN stated: “Foreign exchange flows through the economy resulted in a net inflow of $6.92 billion, compared with $9.22 billion in January 2026.”

“Aggregate foreign exchange inflow decreased to $9.43 billion, from $12.23 billion in January. Aggregate foreign exchange outflow also decreased to $2.50 billion, from $3.01 billion in the preceding month.”

“Foreign exchange inflow through the Bank (CBN) fell to $3.09 billion, from $4.66 billion in January 2026. Similarly, autonomous inflow fell to $6.34 billion, from $7.57 billion.”

“Outflow through the Bank rose to $1.75 billion, from $1.57 billion in the preceding month. In contrast, autonomous outflow decreased to $0.75 billion, from $1.44 billion.”

“Consequently, flows through the Bank and autonomous sources resulted in net inflows of $1.34 billion and $5.58 billion, respectively, compared with $3.09 billion and $6.14 billion in the preceding month.”

“While highly positive, these figures represent a step down from the $3.09 billion and $6.14 billion recorded by the Bank and autonomous sources respectively in the preceding month, pointing to a cooling period in overall foreign capital activity.”