Nigeria's gross external reserves reached $54.61 billion as of September 14, 2026, reflecting an increase of $12.76 billion over the preceding twelve months and a stronger external liquidity position for the country.
Data from the Central Bank of Nigeria show that reserves stood at $41.84 billion on September 15, 2025, translating to year-on-year growth of 30.5 percent.
The reserve position has continued to strengthen during September, adding roughly $707.75 million in the first two weeks of the month. Reserves were recorded at $53.90 billion on September 1, moved to $54.08 billion by September 3, and reached $54.61 billion by September 14.
Compared with the beginning of 2026, the reserves have gained about $7.09 billion. Nigeria first crossed the $50 billion threshold in June and maintained an upward trend through July and August.
The accumulation has coincided with stronger foreign capital inflows. Nigeria attracted $10.37 billion in foreign capital in the first quarter of 2026, an increase of 83.8 percent from $5.64 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2025.
At $54.61 billion, the reserves now stand above the Central Bank's full-year projection of approximately $51.04 billion. A larger reserve buffer can strengthen the country's capacity to absorb external shocks and support stability in the foreign exchange market, although the usable portion depends on the composition of the reserves and Nigeria's external obligations.
