The Nigerian Naira held steady against the United States Dollar during Friday morning trading on February 13, 2026. As the market heads into the final session of the week, the local currency continues to benefit from a stable policy environment and recent measures by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) aimed at improving retail dollar availability.
Official Market Performance
At the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM), the Naira opened trading at about 1,356.33 per dollar. After early transactions, the rate experienced slight movements, settling at a mid-morning average of 1,355.58.
The marginal intraday gain reflects the currency’s continued consolidation within the 1,350 to 1,360 band. Analysts attribute the steady performance to the effective operation of the Electronic Foreign Exchange Matching System (EFEMS), which aligns demand with supply, as well as the CBN’s renewed engagement with Bureau De Change (BDC) operators to facilitate retail transactions.
Parallel Market Update
In the parallel market, also known as the black market, the dollar remained largely stable on Friday, tracking the calm seen in the official window. In major commercial centres such as Lagos and Abuja, the dollar traded between 1,425 and 1,440.
Market participants noted that the typical “weekend effect,” which can sometimes push up demand and rates, was subdued. Improved dollar supply through authorised BDC channels helped reduce speculative buying activity that often fuels higher informal market rates. Consequently, the gap between the NFEM and the parallel market remained relatively narrow, offering greater predictability for small importers and individual buyers.
Exchange Rate Summary – February 13, 2026
- NFEM (Official) Opening Rate: 1,356.33
- NFEM (Official) Mid-Morning Rate: 1,355.58
- Parallel Market Range: 1,425 – 1,440
As trading continues, the Naira appears positioned to sustain its current momentum into the middle of the month. Market observers will closely watch the closing figures later in the day to gauge the currency’s strength ahead of Monday’s session.
