Key Takeaways
- The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has lifted a seven-year ban on local investor participation in Open Market Operations (OMO).
- Individuals, corporates, and non-bank financial institutions can now invest in OMO securities through Deposit Money Banks (DMBs).
- Restrictions on access to the Discount Window, previously tied to foreign exchange and government securities participation, have been removed.
- The suspension of Tenored Repo Operations has been lifted, allowing for flexible liquidity management.
- The apex bank retains full control over the scale, timing, and frequency of OMO issuances.
Nigeria's financial landscape witnessed a significant policy shift yesterday as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) announced the reversal of a seven-year restriction on local investor participation in Open Market Operations (OMO). This pivotal decision, outlined in a circular dated August 12, 2026, reopens the lucrative OMO market to a broad spectrum of domestic players, including individuals, corporate entities, and non-bank financial.