The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has issued a definitive directive detailing how financial holding companies should calculate their minimum paid-up capital, following weeks of confusion that delayed the release of some banks’ half-year and nine-month financial statements.

In a circular dated November 14, 2025, the apex bank acknowledged “divergent interpretations” of the term minimum paid-up capital as stated in Section 7.1 of the 2014 Guidelines for Licensing and Regulation of Financial Holding Companies.

To eliminate ambiguity, the CBN ruled that minimum paid-up capital must be computed strictly as the par value of issued shares plus any share premium arising from their issuance.

READ ALSO:CBN Sets POS Maximum Transactions In Fresh Guidelines

“All Financial Holding Companies are required to apply this definition in computing their minimum capital requirement—without exception for subsidiaries,” the circular stated.

The regulator added that the directive takes immediate effect, noting that any previous interpretation that does not align with the new clarification “should be discontinued forthwith.”

The move is expected to calm market anxiety and provide clarity for lenders navigating ongoing regulatory capital requirements.

The Nigerian Naira recorded massive week-on-week losses against the United States dollar at the official foreign exchange market.

The Central Bank of Nigeria’s exchange rate showed that the Naira dipped significantly to end the week at N1,456.73 on Friday, November 21, 2025, down from N1,442.43 traded on November 14.

This means that on a weekly basis, the Naira shed N14.06 against the dollar at the official market.

READ ALSO:

However, at the black market, currently battling with low patronage, it remained stable at N1,465, the same rate traded last week.

The development comes despite Nigeria’s foreign reserves rising by 1.25 per cent to $43.64 billion in the last week.

The Naira bounced back, recording an appreciation against the United States dollar at the official foreign exchange market after hitting its lowest point this week.

Data from the Central Bank of Nigeria showed that the Naira strengthened to N1,452.13 on Thursday, up from N1,454.19 traded on Wednesday.

This represents a gain of N2.06 against the dollar on a day-to-day basis.

READ ALSO:Naira Ranks Ninth Weakest Currency, Tanzania’s Strangest In Africa — Forbes Report [LIST]

Meanwhile, in the black market, the Naira depreciated by N5 to N1,470 per dollar on Thursday, down from N1,465 recorded the previous day.

The apex bank’s data indicated that the country’s external reserves continued to rise, standing at $44.12 billion as of 19 November 2025, despite the mixed sentiments in the currency exchange market.

Recall that on Wednesday, the Naira recorded its highest depreciation against the dollar at the official FX market.