Naira Starts 2026 Stable as Dollar Trades Near ₦1,446 Officially

The naira started the first full trading Friday of 2026 with steady movement against the US dollar. People are watching closely because business activities are returning after the holidays, and demand for dollars may rise.

Official Rate

In the official market (NFEM), the dollar was selling at about ₦1,446.62 to $1 on the morning of January 2, 2026. The naira has been showing gradual improvement in the official market compared to late 2024 when the rate was much weaker.

Parallel Market

In the black market, the dollar usually sells higher than the official rate because people buy based on quick, daily demand. But traders say the gap between the official market and the street market is smaller than it used to be.

Why the Rate Is Holding

Three main things are helping shape the exchange rate as 2026 begins:

1. Nigeria’s foreign reserves, which help the Central Bank manage pressure.

2. Oil income, since oil is Nigeria’s biggest source of dollars.

3. CBN policy decisions, especially the first Monetary Policy Committee meeting of the year, which will show how the government plans to manage inflation and interest rates.

The market may stay calm today, but next week could show a clearer direction as companies resume full work, import demand increases, and more people return to regular transactions.