The Central Bank of Nigeria has relaxed restrictions preventing banks participating in foreign exchange transactions and government securities auctions from accessing its Discount Window, as part of changes aimed at improving liquidity management and money market operations.
The apex bank also lifted the suspension on tenored repurchase transactions and expanded participation in its Open Market Operations to eligible investors, including individuals, companies and non-bank financial institutions.
The changes were contained in a circular titled, “Review of Discount Window Restrictions and Open Market Operations Participation Framework,” published on the CBN’s website on Wednesday.
The circular, dated August 12, 2026, was signed by the Acting Director of the Financial Markets Department, Okey Umeano, and addressed to deposit money banks, authorised dealers and the general public.
The CBN said the changes followed a review of developments and existing practices across Nigeria’s foreign exchange, money and fixed-income markets, as well as the framework governing access to its Standing Lending Facility, tenored repo operations and OMO.
