In a fresh update delivered today, Thursday, July 17, 2025, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) mid‑market rate for the US dollar settled at approximately ₦1,525.69 per USD—a dip of 0.42% in the last 24 hours. Over the previous week, the dollar’s value saw minimal fluctuation, swinging between ₦1,524.25 and ₦1,541.62, averaging out at about ₦1,535.17
On the official CBN platform, the dollar exchanged hands at ₦1,529.76 ─ slightly firmer than the mid‑market figure
Osun Defender
In contrast, parallel market rates remain distinctly higher. At bureaux de change in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Kano, the dollar is being bought at ₦1,540 and sold at ₦1,550—AbokiFX pegged it at ₦1,535 to ₦1,545 today
Naira Today
For holders of euros and pounds, the parallel market tells a striking tale: euros change at ₦1,755 to ₦1,800, while sterling trades between ₦2,120 and ₦2,160 .
Now, let’s break it down:
If you’re sitting on, say, US $10,000, yesterday’s mid‑market rate was around ₦1,532–₦1,535 per dollar. Today, at ₦1,525.69, that means your stash is worth ₦15,256,900, down from roughly ₦15,350,000—a daily unrealised loss of about ₦93,100 (≈ 0.6%).
Should the same $10,000 have been used at the parallel market yesterday—say ₦1,540—you’d have earned ₦15,400,000. Selling today at ₦1,550 nets you ₦15,500,000, a ₦100,000 gain (~ 0.65%). Yet this gain is shadowed by the risk of sharp intraday swings.
Daily Investment Risk & Return Insight:
Let’s say foreign‑currency holdings are part of your risk portfolio. On the official market, you’re exposed to modest moves—today’s 0.42% slide translates directly to value erosion. Conversely, the parallel market offers higher returns (approx. 0.65% today), but with greater volatility, driven by supply–demand dynamics, policy shifts or speculative bets.
In sum, if you’re looking to preserve naira value, the official market offers stability at the cost of modest returns. The parallel market, although more lucrative in the short‑term, carries heightened risk