The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Olayemi Cardoso, has outlined the Bank’s policy priorities for 2026, with a focus on strengthening financial-system resilience, enhancing price stability, modernising the payments ecosystem, deepening financial inclusion, and supporting responsible innovation in the fintech sector.

Speaking at the 60th Annual Bankers’ Dinner, Cardoso said the Bank has made measurable progress in restoring macroeconomic stability, reducing inflationary pressures, improving data-driven policymaking, ending monetary financing of government deficits, and narrowing the foreign-exchange market gap to below 2 percent. He added that the country’s external reserves are beginning to rebuild organically due to improved non-oil export performance and a more efficient FX market structure.

The CBN governor reiterated that the banking sector remains sound, with regulators maintaining close watch over emerging risks. He cited the continued expansion of digital payments, wider adoption of contactless cards, stronger oversight of agent-banking operations, and Nigeria’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list as developments boosting confidence in the financial system.

Cardoso closed his remarks with a pledge that the Bank will maintain disciplined, transparent, and forward-looking policies aimed at keeping the economy stable and positioning Nigeria for sustainable long-term growth.