Nigeria’s foreign exchange supply increased by 20.5 per cent to $8.94 billion in 2025, up from $7.43 billion recorded in 2024, according to data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The figures were contained in the apex bank’s 2025 Statistical Bulletin and represent an increase of about $1.51 billion in annual foreign exchange supply.

Monthly figures showed that supply remained relatively low at the beginning of 2025 before rising significantly in March and April.

FX supply stood at $590.64 million in January and $607.63 million in February. It then climbed to $1.04 billion in March before reaching its highest monthly level of $1.65 billion in April.

However, supply declined in the following months, falling to $838.93 million in May and $676.31 million in June. It recovered slightly to $759.02 million in July before dropping to $677.84 million in August and $399.80 million in September.

October recorded the lowest monthly figure for the year at $150.10 million. Supply later recovered to $638.38 million in November and $910.73 million in December.

The CBN also reported that total foreign exchange inflows into Nigeria rose from $96.53 billion in 2024 to $109.86 billion in 2025, representing a 13.81 per cent increase.

However, foreign exchange outflows also increased during the period, rising by 27.83 per cent from $38.37 billion to $49.05 billion.

As a result, Nigeria recorded a net foreign exchange inflow of $60.81 billion in 2025, compared with $58.16 billion in 2024.

The CBN data, however, do not provide a detailed breakdown of the sources of the $8.94 billion supplied during the year.

The increase in FX supply comes amid continued efforts to improve liquidity and stability in Nigeria’s foreign exchange market, although the market remained volatile in 2026.

Africa’s richest man and President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has reacted to the wave of viral memes generated by Nigerians who recently bought shares in the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.

The memes emerged following the launch of the refinery’s Initial Public Offering (IPO) on the Nigerian Exchange on September 14, with investors jokingly presenting themselves as business partners and co-owners of the multibillion-dollar refinery.

Dangote addressed the trend while speaking with CNN correspondent Larry Madowo at the Unstoppable Africa 2026 summit in New York.

The billionaire said the IPO was designed to attract investors from across Africa, with an ambition of having up to 10 million shareholders.

According to Dangote, the objective is to broaden ownership and increase participation in Africa’s capital markets.

He also expressed confidence in the future value of the company, saying the share price would continue to grow and that he expected the refinery to become Africa’s most profitable company.

The viral memes began after the minimum subscription was set at 10 shares, allowing more Nigerians to participate in the offer with a relatively small amount of money.

Some new shareholders jokingly demanded board meetings, while others posted memes portraying themselves as senior executives of the refinery. The trend even inspired humorous videos from Nigerian comedians and content creators.

Reuters also reported that the IPO triggered significant interest among retail investors, with some digital investment platforms experiencing technical difficulties as people rushed to participate.

The Dangote Refinery IPO involves 4.1 billion ordinary shares, with the offer scheduled to close on October 13, 2026. The funds are intended to support the company’s expansion plans, including an increase in refining capacity.

Dangote also said the expected number of shareholders could be so large that the company’s annual general meeting would need to be held in a stadium.

The development has turned what is essentially a major capital-market transaction into a major social-media talking point, with Nigerians using humour to celebrate their newly acquired stakes in one of the country’s biggest industrial projects.

Troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, working alongside local vigilantes, have reportedly captured key commanders of a terrorist group suspected of involvement in the kidnapping and killing of retired Major General Rabe Abubakar in Katsina State.

The operation, carried out on Sunday, September 20, 2026, reportedly resulted in the arrest of several senior members of the terrorist group known as the Kachalla Maha network.

Among those captured was a suspected commander identified as Samagi, who is believed to be a prominent figure within the group’s operational structure.

According to security sources, the suspects are expected to undergo detailed investigation and profiling to determine their individual roles in the activities of the group and their possible involvement in other attacks and kidnappings across Katsina and neighbouring states.

The arrests were reportedly achieved through cooperation between military personnel and local vigilantes, with intelligence from local communities playing a role in tracking the suspects.

Security authorities are expected to use information obtained from the arrested suspects to uncover details about the group’s leadership structure, hideouts, supply networks and other possible members or collaborators.

The development comes months after Major General Rabe Abubakar, a former Director of Defence Information, was abducted alongside his wife in Katsina State. He later died while in captivity. His wife was subsequently rescued during a military operation.

The military has continued intensified operations in Katsina and other parts of the North-West as part of efforts to disrupt terrorist and bandit networks operating in the region.