The naira closed the week stronger against the US dollar in Nigeria’s official foreign-exchange market, extending its recent recovery despite remaining unchanged on the parallel market.
Official rate edges higher
Central Bank of Nigeria figures placed the naira at N1,346.49 per dollar on Friday, August 20, 2026, compared with N1,347.63 a day earlier. The move represented a modest daily appreciation of N1.14.
- Official market: N1,346.49 to the dollar on Friday, versus N1,347.63 on Thursday.
- Daily movement: The naira gained N1.14 against the US currency.
- Weekly performance: The currency advanced by N11.12 in the official market over the week.
Parallel-market rate holds steady
Trading outside the official market showed no change. The naira continued to exchange at N1,405 per dollar on Friday, matching the level recorded on the preceding day.
Reserves and weekly trend
Nigeria’s foreign-exchange reserves were reported at $52.66 billion as of August 19, 2026. Across the week under review, the naira posted several advances, with Wednesday standing out as the only session in which it weakened.
Market snapshot for August 20
The latest figures marked a return to appreciation for the Nigerian currency against the US dollar, allowing the naira to finish the week on a positive note in the official foreign-exchange market.
