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CBN: USD ₦1,378.70 · GBP ₦1,836.57 · EUR ₦1,602.46 · CAD ₦990 — Fri 3 April 2026 ⚠ IRAN DEADLINE TOMORROW: April 6 (Sunday) — Trump’s Hormuz ultimatum expires in 3 days NAIRA APPRECIATING: ₦1,378.70 today — strongest official rate since mid-March Parallel: USD ₦1,410 sell · GBP ₦1,905 · EUR ₦1,620 · CAD ₦1,018 Official/parallel gap: ₦31 — holding narrow as Q2 opens positively Today is the last CBN trading day before the April 6 Iran war deadline weekend CBN: USD ₦1,378.70 · GBP ₦1,836.57 · EUR ₦1,602.46 · CAD ₦990 — Fri 3 April 2026 ⚠ IRAN DEADLINE TOMORROW: April 6 (Sunday) — Trump’s Hormuz ultimatum expires in 3 days NAIRA APPRECIATING: ₦1,378.70 today — strongest official rate since mid-March Parallel: USD ₦1,410 sell · GBP ₦1,905 · EUR ₦1,620 · CAD ₦1,018
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Business & Economy · Last Trading Day Before April 6Naira Exchange Rate Today —
Naira Exchange Rate Today —
Friday, 3 April 2026
CBN Official (USD)
₦1,378.70
▲ Best rate in 3 weeks
Parallel Market (USD)
₦1,410
▼ ₦5 eased this week
Official/Parallel Gap
₦31
▼ Narrowing from ₦35
Iran Deadline
3 Days
Sunday April 6 — key risk
📈 Week’s Big Story: The naira has been quietly appreciating all week — from ₦1,386.72 on Monday (Q2 open) to ₦1,378.70 today, a gain of ₦8.02 in four trading days. This is the naira’s strongest CBN rate since mid-March, driven by improved EFEMS liquidity, CBN remittance reforms, and easing corporate dollar demand post-Q1 close. The parallel market has also softened to ₦1,410 from ₦1,420 earlier this week. The naira is heading into a dangerous weekend in surprisingly good shape.
Friday Market Summary (Last Trading Day Before April 6): Today is both the final CBN trading day of Q2’s first week — and the last window before Sunday’s Iran deadline. The naira has defied expectations by strengthening throughout Q2 Week 1, touching ₦1,378.70 at the official window. Like a boxer who expected a tough opening round but found themselves ahead on points, the naira enters the weekend in a position of relative strength. The pound also softened — GBP fell to ₦1,823.44 by 6am, a 0.67% naira appreciation versus sterling since the start of April. System liquidity remains above ₦8 trillion. Reserves are near $49.3B. The CBN appears to be actively managing the rate lower ahead of a potentially volatile weekend. Whether the April 6 deadline brings escalation or extension will determine whether next week opens at ₦1,360 (peace) or ₦1,410+ (new strikes).
⚠ Weekend Risk Notice — April 6: CBN markets are closed Saturday and Sunday. Any Iran war escalation over the weekend cannot be offset by official CBN intervention until Monday morning. If strikes resume, the parallel market — which operates 7 days — will price in the shock over the weekend. Do not leave large unhedged dollar needs for Monday morning. If you must transact this weekend, expect BDC operators to price in a ₦15–₦25 risk premium above today’s rates.
Official CBN Rates — Friday 3 April 2026 NFEM · CBN EFEMS · Verified
| Currency | Buying (₦) | Selling (₦) | CBN Mid Rate | Week Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
USD US Dollar | ₦1,375.50 | ₦1,382.00 | ₦1,378.70 | ▲ +₦8.02 this week |
GBP British Pound | ₦1,820.00 | ₦1,853.00 | ₦1,836.57 | ▼ Naira gained vs GBP |
EUR Euro | ₦1,596.00 | ₦1,609.00 | ₦1,602.46 | ▲ +₦3.30 vs Mon |
CAD Canadian Dollar | ₦986.00 | ₦994.00 | ₦990.00 | — Flat |
CNY Chinese Yuan | ₦190.00 | ₦192.00 | ₦191.00 | — Flat |
Parallel (Black) Market Rates — Friday 3 April 2026 BDC · Lagos · Abuja · Kano
🇺🇸 USD — US Dollar
Buying
₦1,390
/
Selling
₦1,410
▲ 1.44% · Eased from ₦1,420 Mon · Wuse Zone 4: ₦1,410–₦1,415
🇬🇧 GBP — British Pound
Buying
₦1,860
/
Selling
₦1,905
▼ 0.78% · Softening this week
🇪🇺 EUR — Euro
Buying
₦1,580
/
Selling
₦1,620
▼ 0.61% · Slight naira gain vs EUR
🇨🇦 CAD — Canadian Dollar
Buying
₦1,004
/
Selling
₦1,018
▲ 0.3% · Holding gains
Q2 Week 1 — The Naira’s Surprising Appreciation Mon 31 Mar → Fri 3 Apr
| Day | CBN Official | Parallel | Gap | Movement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon 31 Mar (Q1 close) | ₦1,384.25 | ₦1,415 | ₦31 | Q1 final |
| Wed 1 Apr (Q2 open) | ₦1,385.27 | ₦1,420 | ₦35 | Slight slip at open |
| Thu 2 Apr | ₦1,382.45 | ₦1,415 | ₦33 | ▲ Gains begin |
| Fri 3 Apr ← Today | ₦1,378.70 | ₦1,410 | ₦31 | ▲ Best rate this week |
| ⚠ CBN closed Sat–Sun · Iran deadline Sunday April 6 | ||||
| Mon 6 Apr (if peaceful) | Target ₦1,360–₦1,375 | ₦1,390–₦1,400 | ₦20–₦30 | Best case |
| Mon 6 Apr (if strikes) | Risk ₦1,400–₦1,420 | ₦1,440–₦1,460 | ₦40–₦50 | Worst case |
The naira gained ₦8.02 this week at the official window — its best Q2 opening performance since 2021. The April 6 weekend will determine whether these gains extend or reverse.
USD/NGN — Last 10 Trading Days + Weekend Outlook CBN Official & Parallel
What Today’s Rate Means for the Street Friday 3 April · Pre-Weekend
Friday good news: The naira’s ₦1,378.70 official rate is the best Nigerians have seen in three weeks — and the tightest official-parallel gap (₦31) since early February. If you have dollar needs, today is likely your best window of the week. But complete transactions before close of business — the weekend is uncertain.
Food & Market
A firmer naira this week (₦1,378 today vs ₦1,386 Monday) is a quiet positive for imported food costs. Vegetable oil, canned goods and rice should see marginal price relief at wholesale level within 1–2 weeks if the naira holds. The market follows currency moves like a shadow — with a 7–14 day lag.
Slow relief coming — hold onFuel & Transport
Dangote gantry remains ₦1,200/litre. Some stations at ₦1,300–₦1,350. A naira at ₦1,378 supports slightly better pricing — but everything hinges on whether Brent stays below $105 after April 6. If Iran escalates: pump prices will rise within days. If diplomacy holds: prices could soften further to ₦1,150–₦1,200 at gantry in April.
Improving — April 6 is the pivotRemittances
Sending from the diaspora today? The parallel buy rate of ₦1,390 is the best in three weeks for naira recipients. If you are expecting a transfer, today is an excellent day to receive it — rates could be worse by Monday depending on April 6. Use your bank’s IMTO window for the most reliable rate.
Best rate in weeks — receive todaySchool Fees Abroad
At ₦1,378.70 official, a $10,000 payment costs ₦13.79M — the cheapest it has been since mid-March. If your payment is flexible, today (Friday) is your best window this week. Settling before market close avoids any Monday morning Iran-shock premium. A ₦600,000 saving vs Q1’s worst rate (₦1,540 parallel) is real money.
Best window this week — act todaySME Importers
Today is your week’s best FX buying window — the naira is at its cheapest (most naira for your dollar) since mid-March, the parallel gap is narrow, and Q2’s early-April calm is still holding. Complete your import FX needs before 3pm WAT today. Monday could open significantly different depending on what Trump announces this weekend.
Act before 3pm today — best rateWeekend FX Planning
CBN market is closed Sat–Sun. Parallel market BDCs will operate but with a risk premium baked in ahead of April 6. Avoid large parallel market transactions this weekend — operators widen their spread significantly around geopolitical deadlines. Wait for Monday’s CBN session to re-open before any major exchanges.
Avoid large trades this weekend📋 Your Friday & Weekend Action Plan
✓
Complete all urgent FX transactions today before 3pm WAT — this is the week’s best official rate (₦1,378.70) and the CBN market closes for the weekend after today’s session.✓
Receive remittances today if expected — the parallel buy rate of ₦1,390 is the week’s best. Use bank IMTO, not street BDCs, for more reliable execution.!
Do NOT make large parallel market purchases Saturday or Sunday — BDC operators will price in the April 6 risk premium (₦15–₦25 above normal) for the entire weekend.→
April 6 (Sunday) scenarios to monitor: Trump extends deadline again → Naira firms Monday (buy opportunity). Strikes resume → Naira weakens (hold and wait). Ceasefire deal → Naira could strengthen sharply (act fast).✓
Tune in to NaijaNEwsfeeds for Monday 6 April live rate updates from 8am WAT as CBN markets reopen after the Iran deadline weekend.✓
Q2 Week 1 verdict: Naira gained ₦8 this week — a genuinely positive start to the quarter. Hold that thought going into a risky weekend, and be ready to act early Monday morning. Disclaimer: Rates sourced from NairaToday.com (3 April 2026, live feed), Vanguard (April 3 pound report), and Telegraph Nigeria (April 2 USD analysis). CBN official rate is the NFEM Volume Weighted Average. Parallel rates are from BDC operators in Lagos, Abuja and Kano. Always verify before transacting. Not financial advice.
