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Banks’ Deposit With The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Rose Sharply 783% to N79.8trn

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Banks’ deposit with the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, rose sharply by 783.7 percent, year-on-year, YoY, to N79.8 trillion in the first seven months of the year (7m’25) from N9.03 trillion in the corresponding period of 2024 (7m’24), indicating excess liquidity in the banking system.

CBN has two short term lending windows for banks, namely, the Standing Lending Facility (SLF) and Repurchase (Repo) lending.

It lends money to banks through the SLF at interest rate of 500 basis points (bpts) above the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR), and also lends money to banks through Repo arrangement, which involves the purchase of banks’ securities with the agreement to sell back at a specific date and usually for a higher price.

On the other hand, the apex bank accepts deposits from banks through its Standing Deposit Facility (SDF) and pays an interest rate of MPR minus 100 bpts.

Trend analysis also showed that banks’ deposits in SDF surged by 158.4 percent, quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) to N49.68 trillion in the second quarter of 2025 (Q2’25) from N19.22 trillion in Q1’25.

In July, banks deposited N10.9 trillion, down by 29.2 percent from N15.4 trillion in June 2025.

In addition to the excess liquidity in the banking system the strong patronage of the SDF by banks reflects the effect of CBN’s shift to a single-tier remuneration structure for the SDF last year.

The policy stipulated that all SDF deposits are remunerated at the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) minus 100 bpts and with the current MPR at 27.5 percent, this resulted in an SDF rate of 26.5 per cent. On the other hand, banks’ borrowing through the SLF declined by 11.6 per cent, YoY, to N66.47 trillion in 7m’25 from N75.19 trillion in 7m’24.

However, trend analysis showed that banks’ borrowing through the SLF rose by 61 per cent, QoQ, to N50.46 trillion in Q2’25 from N9.38 trillion in Q1’ 25.

On a monthly basis, banks’ borrowings stood at N6.63 trillion in July, representing a 245.3 percent decline from N1.92 trillion in June 2025.

The decline in banks’ borrowing from the CBN reflects liquidity constraints in the interbank money market.

The apex bank conducted a liquidity mop up through regular sale of Open Market Operations, OMO, treasury bills (TBs) during the period.

Vanguard’s findings from the apex bank showed that CBN sold N11.53 trillion worth of OMO TBs in 7m’25, up 75.2 percent from N6.58 trillion in 7m’24. Likewise, cost of funds in the interbank money market recorded a significant increase, with the average interest rate on Collateralized (Open Buy Back, OBB) lending at 31.6 per cent at the end of July 2025, up from 25.75 percent at the end of July 2024.

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National Pension Commission (PenCom) changes price disclosure rule

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National Pension Commission (PenCom) has directed Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) to discontinue the publication of daily unit prices for Retirement Savings Account (RSA) and Retiree Funds on their websites, replacing the requirement with a six-month disclosure of returns based on a three-year rolling average.

The directive was contained in a circular issued by the commission.

Under the new guideline, PFAs must stop implementing Section 2.0 (iv) of the Commission’s March 23, 2013 circular, which required them to display daily unit prices for the last seven days.

Instead, they are to publish on their websites the last six months’ rate of return — calculated as a 36-month compounded rolling average in line with the Circular for the Calculation and Reporting of Rate of Returns by Licensed Pension Fund Operators (LPFOs).

According to the commission, the rate of return must be clearly displayed on the homepage of each PFA’s website.

For instance, the six-month disclosure covering April to September 2025 would reflect the 36-month compounded returns ending in each of those months.

This has however raised transparency concerns in the pension industry.

The 2013 circular on Minimum Information to be displayed on PFA Websites formed part of PenCom’s transparency framework for the Contributory Pension Scheme.

The latest addendum modifies that requirement but does not remove PFAs’ obligation to disclose performance information.

Industry watchers say the development may reignite debate over the balance between long-term investment reporting and real-time transparency in Nigeria’s pension industry.

All enquiries on the addendum, the Commission said, should be directed to its Surveillance Department.

An industry analyst who does not want her name mentioned said the move could reduce contributors’ access to real-time performance data.

She said: “Daily unit prices allowed RSA holders to independently track short-term movements and detect fluctuations in fund valuation.

“With only a three-year rolling average now required, contributors will no longer see recent performance in isolation”, she noted.

The analyst added that while pension funds are long-term vehicles, removing daily disclosure raises concerns about information asymmetry.

“PFAs will still compute daily valuations internally. The issue is whether contributors should be denied access to data that already exists,” the analyst said.

However, another pension expert defended the directive, noting that pensions are structured for long-term accumulation and should be assessed over extended periods.

“A 36-month rolling average smooth’s out short-term volatility and provides a more accurate reflection of sustained performance,” the expert said, warning that excessive focus on daily fluctuations could encourage reactionary fund switching.

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Dollar rises in black market on Monday, traders quote new exchange rate

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Dollar edges higher against the naira in black market trading Dollar edges higher against the naira in black market trading

The United States dollar at the parallel market increased in value on Monday, Febuary 23 with traders quote at N1,375/$ as the new selling exchange rate.

The new rate is a slight depreciation for the naira when compared to N1,343 a dollar market closed on Friday, February 20, 2026.

Abdulahhi, a forex dealer, told Legit.ng that the new exchange rate follows renew demand in the market.

“I am currently selling dollars at N1,375/$1 and buying at N1,355/$1. The pound is trading at N1,845 to sell and N1,805 to buy, while the euro is also moving steadily in the market.

“It seems this week the dollar will return to over N1,400. I have been getting a lot of request.”

The fall of the naira comes as BDC operators continue to face difficulties in accessing dollars from commercial banks.

BDCs can get dollar

The apex bank had previously issued a circular allowing licensed BDCs to access foreign exchange through authorised dealers at the prevailing market rate.

Under the directive, each BDC is permitted to purchase up to $150,000 weekly, subject to Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements and due diligence checks, Punch reports.

Leadership reported that despite a policy announcement, some operators disclosed that no transactions have been completed under the new arrangement.

A BDC operator, who requested anonymity, said the directive remains largely unimplemented. According to him, the circular provides that disbursements will be made through settlement accounts, a provision that has raised operational concerns.

He questioned the feasibility of seamless, real-time transfers between domiciliary accounts across different banks, noting that such infrastructure may not yet be fully in place.

The operator added that while commercial banks appear supportive of the policy, many are still developing internal processes to align with the CBN’s directive.

He explained that BDCs are required to submit bid orders through their banks, which would then access the market on their behalf.

Naira in the official market

Meanwhile, in the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEM), the naira closed against the US dollar on Friday, February 20 at N1,346.32/$1 from N1,341.35/$1 a day earlier.

At the GTBank FX desk, the naira weakened by N7 against the dollar to quote N1,356/$1.

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