Nigeria’s foreign reserves hit $54.61bn as annual gain tops $12.76bn

Nigeria’s gross foreign exchange reserves rose to $54.61 billion as of September 14, 2026, up $12.76 billion from $41.84 billion a year earlier, representing a 30.5% year-on-year increase, according to Nairametrics analysis of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) data.

The reserves gained roughly $707.75 million so far in September, climbing from $53.90 billion on September 1 to the current figure. Between August 14 and September 14, the stock added about $2.28 billion.

The latest balance surpasses the CBN’s projected 2026 year-end reserve level of approximately $51.04 billion. The accumulation coincides with a sharp rise in foreign capital inflows, which reached $10.37 billion in the first quarter of 2026, an 83.8% increase from the prior year, per NBS data.