Aboki Naira to Dollar Black Market Exchange Rate Today, 25th October 2025

The Nigerian Naira maintained its precarious balance against the US Dollar in the parallel market today, with black market traders, commonly known as “Aboki” operators, quoting a selling rate of ₦1,500 per Dollar and a buying rate of ₦1,485.

This marks a slight uptick in the selling rate from Thursday’s ₦1,499, signaling persistent volatility in Nigeria’s informal forex sector despite recent interventions by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Sources from Bureau De Change (BDC) operators in key cities, including Lagos, Abuja, and Kano, confirmed the rates early Saturday, reflecting a narrow margin of ₦15 between buying and selling prices. The parallel market, which operates outside official channels, continues to serve as a critical lifeline for individuals and small businesses seeking foreign currency for imports, remittances, and travel.

However, the CBN has repeatedly urged citizens to use authorized banks for forex transactions, dismissing the black market as unregulated and prone to manipulation. The Naira’s performance comes against a backdrop of broader economic challenges. Inflation remains stubbornly high at around 25%, eroding purchasing power and driving up costs for essentials like fuel, food, and imported goods.

Earlier this week, on October 23, the Naira appreciated marginally in the parallel market to ₦1,499 per Dollar, buoyed by a $70 million injection into the official forex market by the CBN. Yet, by Friday, October 24, it edged back up, underscoring the currency’s sensitivity to global oil prices—Nigeria’s primary export—and speculative trading.

Economists attribute the stability at ₦1,500 to a combination of factors: reduced dollar demand ahead of the weekend, seasonal remittance inflows, and cautious optimism over potential CBN rate hikes at its next Monetary Policy Committee meeting.

“The black market rate is a barometer of public sentiment toward the economy,” said Dr. Aisha Bello, a forex analyst at Lagos-based firm EconInsights. “At this level, it’s holding, but any dip in oil revenues could push it toward ₦1,550 by month’s end.”

For comparison, the official Naira Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM) rate stood at approximately ₦1,464.50 per Dollar on Thursday, creating a premium of about ₦35.50 in the parallel segment—a gap that has narrowed from over ₦100 earlier in the year. Historical data shows the Naira has fluctuated wildly in 2025, hitting a low of ₦1,455 in early October after peaking at ₦1,624 in May.

Market participants remain divided on the outlook. While some traders predict a further weakening due to Nigeria’s $32 billion forex backlog, others point to reforms like oil output boosts and foreign investment inflows as signs of recovery. “We’re seeing more diaspora dollars coming in, which helps,” noted one anonymous Aboki trader in Ikeja, Lagos.

“But until the government fixes the root issues, this dance will continue.” As Nigerians grapple with these dynamics, the black market’s role in daily survival cannot be understated.

For a family importing school supplies or a trader sourcing electronics from abroad, today’s rate means an extra ₦15,000 outlay for every $10,000 exchanged compared to last week.

With no immediate policy shifts announced, all eyes are on next week’s economic indicators for clues on whether the Naira can sustain this fragile equilibrium.

Rates are indicative and subject to real-time fluctuations. For official transactions, consult your bank or the CBN website.