The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) raised a total of N1.008 trillion at its Open Market Operations (OMO) auction held on Friday, 25 April, 2025.
This follows an overwhelming investors’ demand that led to a 102 percent oversubscription.
According to the Apex Bank data, the auction, which initially offered N500 billion across two maturities, attracted total bids of nearly N1.4 trillion.
This indicates that investors sought to take advantage of high-yield government instruments amid rising inflation and expanding money supply.
The move by the CBN to raise funds from OMO affirms its aggressive monetary tightening stance aimed at mopping up excess liquidity and cooling inflationary pressures that have persisted despite elevated interest rates and a record-high cash reserve ratio.
Accordingly, the most in-demand instrument at the auction was the 319-day OMO bill, maturing on March 10, 2026.
It drew a total subscription of N1.062 trillion, more than four times the CBN’s offer of N250 billion. The central bank eventually allotted N688.30 billion at a stop rate of 22.73 percent, with bid rates ranging between 20.39 percent and 23.75 percent.
Similarly, the 298-day bill, maturing on 17 February, 2026, also performed strongly. It received bids totalling N329.54 billion versus the same N250 billion on offer. The CBN allotted N319.54 billion at a stop rate of 22.37 percent, with bid rates falling between 20.45 percent and 23.75 percent.
In total, the apex bank raised N1.008 trillion, more than double its initial offer.
