If you live in the UK and send money to Nigeria, you’ve probably asked yourself this question more than once: “When’s the best time to exchange pounds to naira?”
With the naira fluctuating regularly and remittance rates varying across platforms, timing your exchange can make a big difference, sometimes up to ₦30,000 more on a single £1,000 transfer. Here’s what to know in 2025.
1. Watch for Midweek Stability (Tuesdays–Thursdays)
Historically, midweek days, especially Tuesday and Wednesday, tend to offer slightly more stable rates.
Why? This is because most currency markets settle after the weekend’s global activity and Monday’s initial adjustments. By Tuesday, you can get a clearer, less volatile snapshot of the week’s trends.
Tip: Start checking rates daily from Monday, but consider sending on Tuesday or Wednesday.
2. Avoid Weekends and Public Holidays
Most platforms freeze or adjust their rates during weekends or bank holidays. These adjusted rates are often less favourable because there's limited forex liquidity. If you're planning to send money: Do it before the weekend, Friday afternoon latest, to avoid inflated “weekend rates.”
3. Compare Early in the Morning (Before 10 AM UK Time)
From our daily tracking on platforms like LemFi, Africhange, and Monieworld, we’ve noticed that best rates usually drop early in the day, especially before 10 AM UK time. Rates can adjust mid-day or early afternoon due to demand or market shifts. So, if you're making a transfer, check platforms in the morning and act fast.
4. Watch Key Economic Dates
CBN announcements, inflation data, and interest rate news in Nigeria or the UK, all of these can affect exchange rates. In 2025, be extra alert during CBN policy meetings, UK interest rate decisions, and political or budget updates in Nigeria. These moments can cause the naira to weaken or strengthen temporarily, impacting how much you get.
5. Use Tools Like AbokiUK.com to Track Rates Daily
Platforms like AbokiUK.com help you compare real-time GBP → NGN rates across top platforms like LemFi, Africhange, Taptap Send, Monieworld, Nala, Flutterwave, and Pesa. Rather than guessing, you can time your transfer based on actual rates, and not just habit.
There’s no one-size-fits-all day to exchange GBP to Naira, but there is always a smarter way to do it.