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Nigeria’s External Reserves Hit $53.11bn, Near 2009 Record

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CBN Cuts T-bill Rate Amid N3.63tn Demand Investors are increasingly positioning for longer-term returns in Nigeria’s fixed-income market, with the latest treasury bills auction showing an overwhelming preference for the one-year government security. At the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) primary market auction on Wednesday, investors submitted N3.63tn for the 364-day T-bill, representing 95.9 per cent of the N3.79tn total bids received across the three maturities. The demand came despite the CBN lowering the stop rate on the one-year instrument by 44 basis points to 17.15 per cent, from 17.59 per cent at the previous auction. The auction results point to a significant shift in investor appetite towards longer-dated government securities, even as demand for shorter-tenor instruments remained subdued. The CBN had offered N700bn across the three maturities, comprising N100bn each for the 91-day and 182-day bills and N500bn for the 364-day bill. However, total subscriptions reached approximately N3.79tn, more than five times the amount offered. The 364-day instrument was the clear outlier at the auction, receiving bids equivalent to 7.26 times the amount offered. The CBN ultimately allotted N638.19bn, exceeding the N500bn offer by N138.19bn. Despite the additional allotment, only about 17.6 per cent of total bids submitted for the instrument were accepted. Investors quoted yields between 16.00 per cent and 19.05 per cent, but the CBN settled at 17.15 per cent, suggesting that the level of demand allowed the regulator to reject more expensive bids. The development is significant because the CBN achieved a lower borrowing rate even after receiving exceptionally strong demand for the security. The contrast was stark at the shorter end of the curve. The 91-day bill attracted N103.32bn in subscriptions against N100bn offered. The CBN allotted N89.10bn at an unchanged stop rate of 16.30 per cent. The 182-day bill performed even more weakly, attracting only N52.93bn against N100bn on offer. The CBN allotted N35.59bn, while the stop rate remained at 16.50 per cent. Secondary-market yields for the three instruments stood above their respective auction stop rates, at 17.45 per cent for the 91-day bill, 17.05 per cent for the 182-day bill and 17.24 per cent for the 364-day bill. According to a financial sector analyst, Jimbe Asalor, the concentration of bids in the one-year instrument suggests investors may be placing greater value on locking in relatively attractive yields over a longer period rather than repeatedly rolling over shorter-term securities. He noted that the latest auction also demonstrates “the CBN’s ability to borrow more cheaply when demand is concentrated around a particular maturity.” He added that by accepting N638.19bn on the 364-day bill at 17.15 per cent, the CBN borrowed above its initial offer while simultaneously cutting the rate by 44 basis points. “The nine-basis-point difference between the auction stop rate and the 17.24 per cent secondary-market yield also indicates that the one-year segment is now trading relatively close to market expectations.” A Lagos-based consultant economist, Chukwunonso Iheoma, said if the preference for longer-dated treasury bills persists, the development could provide further support for a gradual decline in government borrowing costs while strengthening expectations of eventual interest-rate cuts.

 

Nigeria’s external reserves have hit $53.11bn, data from the Central Bank of Nigeria revealed.
This is the highest level in more than 17 years and bringing the country close to the reserve peak recorded in 2009.

According to CBN data, the country’s foreign reserves stood at $53.112bn as of 24 August, 2026. The figure is the highest since 12 January, 2009, when the reserves reached $53.25bn.

The latest position leaves Nigeria’s reserves just $142m short of the January 2009 level, indicating a significant recovery in the country’s external liquidity position.

The reserve buildup has accelerated since June. CBN data showed that reserves increased from $49.96bn on 3 June to $53.11bn on 24 August, representing a gain of about $3.15bn.

Reserves also rose from $51.53bn on 3 July to $53.11bn by 24 August. The position crossed the $52bn threshold on 27 July and subsequently increased to $52.86bn on 21 August.

The sustained accumulation has been supported partly by stronger oil earnings and increased dollar inflows into the economy.

Analysts say the stronger reserve position gives the country a larger cushion against external shocks and supports efforts to improve confidence in the foreign exchange market.

The buildup is occurring alongside the CBN’s tight monetary policy stance, which is aimed at containing inflation and supporting broader macroeconomic stability.
Earlier on 19 August, the acting Director, Corporate Communications and Investor Relations Department at the CBN, Hakama Sidi-Ali, had explained that over the past 34 months, the Governor of the CBN, Olayemi Cardoso, had led bold reforms to establish the much-needed foundation for Nigeria’s next economic phase, promoting inclusive growth and job creation to alleviate poverty.
Sidi-Ali listed some of the reforms to include the unification and greater transparency of the foreign exchange market; successful banking sector recapitalisation, which, according to her, has fundamentally strengthened the resilience, capacity and competitiveness of the Nigerian banking industry.

Others are the launch of the non-resident BVN to connect Nigerians abroad with local banking services; the B-Match System for forex trading; unveiling of the Nigeria Payments System Vision 2028; and introduction of a 75 per cent Cash Reserve Ratio on non-Treasury Single Account public sector deposits to enhance liquidity management and curb inflationary risks, among other reforms.

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CBN Cuts T-bill Rate Amid N3.63tn Demand Investors are increasingly positioning for longer-term returns in Nigeria’s fixed-income market, with the latest treasury bills auction showing an overwhelming preference for the one-year government security. At the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) primary market auction on Wednesday, investors submitted N3.63tn for the 364-day T-bill, representing 95.9 per cent of the N3.79tn total bids received across the three maturities. The demand came despite the CBN lowering the stop rate on the one-year instrument by 44 basis points to 17.15 per cent, from 17.59 per cent at the previous auction. The auction results point to a significant shift in investor appetite towards longer-dated government securities, even as demand for shorter-tenor instruments remained subdued. The CBN had offered N700bn across the three maturities, comprising N100bn each for the 91-day and 182-day bills and N500bn for the 364-day bill. However, total subscriptions reached approximately N3.79tn, more than five times the amount offered. The 364-day instrument was the clear outlier at the auction, receiving bids equivalent to 7.26 times the amount offered. The CBN ultimately allotted N638.19bn, exceeding the N500bn offer by N138.19bn. Despite the additional allotment, only about 17.6 per cent of total bids submitted for the instrument were accepted. Investors quoted yields between 16.00 per cent and 19.05 per cent, but the CBN settled at 17.15 per cent, suggesting that the level of demand allowed the regulator to reject more expensive bids. The development is significant because the CBN achieved a lower borrowing rate even after receiving exceptionally strong demand for the security. The contrast was stark at the shorter end of the curve. The 91-day bill attracted N103.32bn in subscriptions against N100bn offered. The CBN allotted N89.10bn at an unchanged stop rate of 16.30 per cent. The 182-day bill performed even more weakly, attracting only N52.93bn against N100bn on offer. The CBN allotted N35.59bn, while the stop rate remained at 16.50 per cent. Secondary-market yields for the three instruments stood above their respective auction stop rates, at 17.45 per cent for the 91-day bill, 17.05 per cent for the 182-day bill and 17.24 per cent for the 364-day bill. According to a financial sector analyst, Jimbe Asalor, the concentration of bids in the one-year instrument suggests investors may be placing greater value on locking in relatively attractive yields over a longer period rather than repeatedly rolling over shorter-term securities. He noted that the latest auction also demonstrates “the CBN’s ability to borrow more cheaply when demand is concentrated around a particular maturity.” He added that by accepting N638.19bn on the 364-day bill at 17.15 per cent, the CBN borrowed above its initial offer while simultaneously cutting the rate by 44 basis points. “The nine-basis-point difference between the auction stop rate and the 17.24 per cent secondary-market yield also indicates that the one-year segment is now trading relatively close to market expectations.” A Lagos-based consultant economist, Chukwunonso Iheoma, said if the preference for longer-dated treasury bills persists, the development could provide further support for a gradual decline in government borrowing costs while strengthening expectations of eventual interest-rate cuts.

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