Best Forex Brokers In Nigeria 2025
To trade forex in Nigeria you will need to open an account with a broker. While the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) oversee forex trading in the country, these are not leading regulators so many residents turn to reputable global brokers.
Many of these brokerages also provide cutting-edge forex platforms and charting tools, competitive fees and a broad selection of currency pairs, so Nigerian traders can get the most out of the Naira (NGN) they deposit.
Discover our pick of the best forex brokers in Nigeria, all accepting local residents and convenient payment methods like PayPal.
6 Top Forex Brokers In Nigeria
According to our first-hand testing and exhaustive analysis, these are the best 6 forex trading platforms in Nigeria:
Here is a short overview of each broker's pros and cons
- XM - XM offers a strong selection of currency pairs with no re-quotes or hidden charges, while spreads have come down over the years, now starting from 0.8 pips on the EUR/USD in the commission-free account.
- IC Markets - IC Markets maintains its commitment to providing exceptionally tight 0.0-pip forex spreads on major currency pairs such as EUR/USD. This makes it an excellent option if you are seeking superior execution, with an average of 35 milliseconds. Additionally, if you are a high-volume trader, you can benefit from rebates of up to $2.50 per forex lot.
- Exness - Exness offers an impressive selection of around 100 forex pairs - more than most brokers we've evaluated - along with competitive spreads on major pairs starting as low as 0.1 pips. Additionally, traders benefit from a robust suite of forex analysis tools, including market news powered by FXStreet.
- Vantage - Vantage offers 55+ currency pairs - above the industry average, so experienced traders can explore plenty of opportunities. Vantage's deep liquidity pool provides forex spreads from 0.0 pips in the ECN account, lower than many alternatives. There are also no commissions, deposit fees or hidden charges.
- AvaTrade - AvaTrade delivers 50+ currency pairs with tight spreads from 0.9 pips and zero commissions. Trade majors, minrs, and exotics 24/5 on leading forex platforms, notably MT4, with sophisticated charting tools and forex education to sharpen your edge, including a dedicated guide to 'Currency Trading'.
- FOREX.com - FOREX.com continues to uphold its stature as a premier FX broker, offering over 80 currency pairs and boasting some of the most competitive fees in the industry. With EUR/USD spreads dipping as low as 0.0 and $5 commission per $100k, it stands out. Moreover, its SMART Signals help to identify price behaviors across numerous major currency markets.
Best Forex Brokers In Nigeria 2025 Comparison
| Broker | Forex Assets | EUR/USD Spread | Forex App Rating | Minimum Deposit | Regulator |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XM | 55+ | 0.8 | / 5 | $5 | ASIC, CySEC, DFSA, IFSC |
| IC Markets | 75 | 0.02 | / 5 | $200 | ASIC, CySEC, FSA, CMA |
| Exness | 100+ | 0.0 | / 5 | $10 | CySEC, FCA, FSCA, CMA, FSA, CBCS, BVIFSC, FSC, JSC |
| Vantage | 55+ | 0.0 | / 5 | $50 | FCA, ASIC, FSCA, VFSC |
| AvaTrade | 50+ | 0.9 | / 5 | $100 | ASIC, CySEC, FSCA, ISA, CBI, FSA, FSRA, BVI, ADGM, CIRO, AFM |
| FOREX.com | 80+ | 1.2 | / 5 | $100 | NFA, CFTC, CIRO, FCA, CYSEC, ASIC, SFC, FSA, MAS, CIMA |
XM
"With a low $5 minimum deposit, advanced charting platforms in MT4 and MT5, expanding range of markets, and a Zero account offering spreads from 0.0, XM provides all the essentials for active traders, even earning our ‘Best MT4/MT5 Broker’ award in recent years."
Christian Harris, Reviewer
XM Quick Facts
| Bonus Offer | $30 No Deposit Bonus When You Register A Real Account |
|---|---|
| GBPUSD Spread | 0.8 |
| EURUSD Spread | 0.8 |
| EURGBP Spread | 1.5 |
| Total Assets | 55+ |
| Leverage | 1:1000 |
| Platforms | MT4, MT5, TradingCentral |
| Account Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, JPY |
Pros
- XM’s growing roster of 1,000+ instruments provides diverse short-term trading opportunities, with unique turbo stocks, fractional shares, and more recently thematic indices.
- XM’s Zero account is ideal for day trading with spreads from 0.0 pips, 99.35% of orders executed in <1 second, and no requotes or rejections.
- XM’s customer support has delivered over years of testing, with 24/5 assistance in 25 languages, response times of <2 minutes and now a growing Telegram channel.
Cons
- XM is falling behind the curve by not offering cTrader and TradingView which are increasingly being favored over MetaTrader for their smoother user experience and superior charting packages.
- Although trusted and generally well-regulated, the XM global entity is registered with the weak IFSC regulator and UK clients are no longer accepted, reducing its market reach.
- XM relies solely on the MetaTrader platforms for desktop trading, so there’s no in-house downloadable or web-accessible solution for a more beginner-friendly user experience with unique features.
IC Markets
"IC Markets offers superior pricing, exceptionally fast execution and seamless deposits. The introduction of advanced charting platforms, notably TradingView, and the Raw Trader Plus account, ensures it remains a top choice for intermediate to advanced day traders."
IC Markets Quick Facts
| GBPUSD Spread | 0.23 |
|---|---|
| EURUSD Spread | 0.02 |
| EURGBP Spread | 0.27 |
| Total Assets | 75 |
| Leverage | 1:30 (ASIC & CySEC), 1:500 (FSA), 1:1000 (Global) |
| Platforms | MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, TradingCentral, DupliTrade, Quantower |
| Account Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, JPY, CHF, HKD, SGD |
Pros
- IC Markets offers fast and dependable 24/5 support based on firsthand experience, particularly when it comes to accounts and funding issues.
- You have access to over 2,250 CFDs across various markets, including forex, commodities, indices, stocks, bonds, and cryptocurrencies, allowing for diversified trading strategies.
- As a tightly regulated and widely respected broker, IC Markets prioritizes client security and transparency, helping to ensure a reliable trading experience globally.
Cons
- The breadth and depth of tutorials, webinars and educational resources still need work, trailing alternatives like CMC Markets and reducing its suitability for beginners.
- There are fees for certain withdrawal methods, including a $20 wire charge, which can eat into profits, especially for frequent withdrawals.
- Interest isn't paid on unused cash, an increasingly popular feature found at alternatives like Interactive Brokers.
Exness
"After slashing its spreads, improving its execution speeds and support trading on over 100 currency pairs with more than 40 account currencies to choose from, Exness is a fantastic option for active forex traders looking to minimize trading costs."
Exness Quick Facts
| GBPUSD Spread | 0.0 |
|---|---|
| EURUSD Spread | 0.0 |
| EURGBP Spread | 0.0 |
| Total Assets | 100+ |
| Leverage | 1:Unlimited |
| Platforms | Exness Trade App, Exness Terminal, MT4, MT5, TradingCentral |
| Account Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, INR, JPY, ZAR, MYR, IDR, DKK, CHF, HKD, SGD, AED, SAR, HUF, BRL, NGN, THB, VND, UAH, KWD, QAR, KRW, MXN, KES, CNY |
Pros
- Fast and dependable 24/7 multilingual customer support via telephone, email and live chat based on hands-on tests.
- Exness Terminal offers a streamlined experience for beginners with dynamic charts while setting up watchlists is a breeze.
- Exness was the first brokerage to pass the $1 trillion and $2 trillion marks in monthly trading volumes, highlighting its legitimacy.
Cons
- Apart from a mediocre blog, educational resources are woeful, especially compared to category leaders like IG which provide a more complete trading journey for newer traders.
- MetaTrader 4 and 5 are supported, but TradingView and cTrader still aren’t despite rising demand from active traders and integration at alternatives like Pepperstone.
- Retail trading services are unavailable in certain jurisdictions, such as the US and the UK, limiting accessibility compared to top-tier brokers like Interactive Brokers.
Vantage
"Vantage remains an excellent option for CFD traders seeking a tightly-regulated broker with access to the reliable MetaTrader platforms. The fast sign-up process and $50 minimum deposit make it very straightforward to start day trading quickly."
Jemma Grist, Reviewer
Vantage Quick Facts
| Bonus Offer | 50% Welcome Deposit Bonus, earn redeemable rewards in the Vantage Rewards scheme |
|---|---|
| GBPUSD Spread | 0.5 |
| EURUSD Spread | 0.0 |
| EURGBP Spread | 0.5 |
| Total Assets | 55+ |
| Leverage | 1:500 |
| Platforms | ProTrader, MT4, MT5, TradingView, DupliTrade |
| Account Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, JPY, HKD, SGD, PLN |
Pros
- The broker has recently made efforts to expand its suite of CFDs providing further trading opportunities
- Vantage maintains its high trust score thanks to its strong reputation and top-tier regulation from the FCA and ASIC
- The ECN accounts are very competitive with spreads from 0.0 pips and a $1.50 commission per side
Cons
- It's a shame that some clients will need to register with the offshore entity, which offers less regulatory protection
- A steep $10,000 deposit is needed for the best trading conditions, which include the $1.50 commission per side
- Unfortunately, cryptos are only available for Australian clients
AvaTrade
"AvaTrade offers active traders everything they need: an intuitive WebTrader, powerful AvaProtect risk management, a smooth 5-minute sign-up process, and dependable support you can rely on in fast-moving markets."
AvaTrade Quick Facts
| Bonus Offer | 20% Welcome Bonus up to $10,000 |
|---|---|
| GBPUSD Spread | 1.5 |
| EURUSD Spread | 0.9 |
| EURGBP Spread | 1.5 |
| Total Assets | 50+ |
| Leverage | 1:30 (Retail) 1:400 (Pro) |
| Platforms | WebTrader, AvaTradeGO, AvaOptions, AvaFutures, MT4, MT5, AlgoTrader, TradingCentral, DupliTrade |
| Account Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD |
Pros
- The WebTrader excelled in our hands-on tests, sporting a user-friendly interface for beginners, complete with robust charting tools like 6 chart layouts and 60+ technical indicators.
- AvaTrade continues to enhance its suite of products, recently through AvaFutures, providing an alternative vehicle to speculate on over 35 markets with low day trading margins.
- Support at AvaTrade performed excellently during testing, with response times of 3 minutes and localized support in major trading jurisdictions, including the UK, Europe and the Middle East.
Cons
- AvaTrade’s WebTrader has improved, but work is still needed in terms of customizability – frustratingly widgets like market watch and watchlists can’t be hidden, moved, or resized.
- The AvaSocial app is good but not great – the look and feel, plus the navigation between finding strategy providers and account management needs upgrading to rival category leaders like eToro.
- Although the deposit process itself is smooth, AvaTrade still doesn’t facilitate crypto payments, a feature increasingly offered by brokers like TopFX, which caters to crypto-focused traders.
FOREX.com
"FOREX.com remains a best-in-class brokerage for active forex traders of all experience levels, with over 80 currency pairs, tight spreads from 0.0 pips and low commissions. The powerful charting platforms collectively offer over 100 technical indicators, as well as extensive research tools."
FOREX.com Quick Facts
| Bonus Offer | 20% Welcome Bonus Up To $5000 |
|---|---|
| GBPUSD Spread | 1.3 |
| EURUSD Spread | 1.2 |
| EURGBP Spread | 1.4 |
| Total Assets | 80+ |
| Leverage | 1:400 |
| Platforms | MT4, MT5, TradingView, eSignal, AutoChartist, TradingCentral |
| Account Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, JPY, CHF, PLN |
Pros
- With over 20 years of experience, excellent regulatory oversight, and multiple accolades including runner-up in our 'Best Forex Broker' awards, FOREX.com boasts a global reputation as a trusted brokerage.
- There’s a wealth of educational resources including tutorials, webinars, and a stacked YouTube channel to help you get educated in the financial markets.
- The in-house Web Trader continues to shine as one of the best-designed platforms for aspiring day traders with a slick design and over 80 technical indicators for market analysis.
Cons
- There’s no negative balance protection for US clients, so you may find yourself owing more money than your initial deposit into your account.
- Despite increasing its range of instruments, FOREX.com's product portfolio is still limited to forex and CFDs, so there are no options to invest in real stocks, real ETFs or real cryptocurrencies.
- Demo accounts are frustratingly time-limited to 90 days, which doesn’t give you enough time to test day trading strategies effectively.
How We Rate Forex Brokers In Nigeria
We look at the following areas when determining the top forex trading platforms:
Trust
It’s important that you sign up with a trusted forex broker to protect you from scams, which Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has warned are on the rise.
Forex traders should be double careful as many scams are run through fake investment firms. In 2024, the Nigerian SEC announced that these illegal operations had cost the public some 500 billion Naira (330 million US Dollars).
That’s why we recommend established, respected forex brokers with large customer bases and regulatory oversight from trusted bodies, such as South Africa’s Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA). That said, local tax rules may still apply.
- XM is trusted and regulated by multiple respected bodies, including the FSCA, the ASIC, DFSA and CySEC. With a long track record spanning 15 years, XM earns the trust of our experts alongside more than 10 million traders.
Forex Platforms
The leading forex brokers in Nigeria offer the charting platforms essential for executing short-term trades based on fluctuations in the foreign exchange market.
We look for firms with well-designed and flexible platforms that allow you to trade from a workspace that suits your needs. We also check for a good selection of in-built charting tools, indicators and order types, catering to all types of forex strategies.
Additionally, we check for value-add tools like copy trading that can help beginners learn from experienced traders, alongside support for automated trading for advanced traders.
- AvaTrade’s charting options lead the pack with its intuitive in-house platform and forex app, the ever-popular MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, plus powerful proprietary social trading and risk management tools.
Currency Pairs
We recommend online brokers with a good range of currency pairs, often traded via forex CFDs. We see 40+ pairs as a decent range for most forex traders, but the top firms regularly offer 60+.
For traders in Nigeria, finding brokers with South African Rand (ZAR) pairs may be important, as this is one of the few African currencies that’s regularly offered by online forex brokers, providing opportunities to speculate on regional currencies.
- Pepperstone offers a strong selection of currency pairs, with 90+ forex assets including ZAR paired with EUR, USD and JPY, among a good choice of majors, minors and exotics.
Trading Fees
Having competitive fees is important to maximize returns, so this is one of our priorities when testing forex trading platforms.
Most forex brokers in Nigeria will make their money from the spread – the difference between a currency pair’s bid and ask price – though some also charge a commission – a flat fee per transaction.
We favor brokers that offer tight spreads on popular currency pairs since this makes it easier to profit from short-term price movements while day trading.
But we also weigh the price paid in fees against the full range of services and tools the brokerage provides to ensure you’re getting the best value for your money. For example, do they offer technical summaries and insights into events affecting currency prices in Africa?
- IC Markets is one of the lowest-cost forex brokers we’ve tested using real money. With spreads from near zero, low commissions and rebates of up to $2.50 per forex lot, it delivers excellent pricing for active currency traders.
Payment Methods
We prioritize forex trading platforms with fast and affordable payment options that allow day traders to fund and empty their accounts without cutting deeply into their profits.
In Nigeria, digital payment methods have been on the rise in recent years, with mobile money users tripling to nearly 17% of the population and e-wallets like PayPal and WebMoney also popular.
We also rate forex brokers with affordable account minimums, lowering the entry barrier for online traders. You should expect to deposit between 0 and 250 USD at most top forex platforms based on our analysis, equivalent to around 0 and 400,000 NGN.
Methodology
We utilized our comprehensive database of forex brokers to concentrate on those that welcome traders from Nigeria. We then ranked them according to an overall score that was determined by 100+ data points and essential criteria, such as:
- Oversight from reputed regulators, such as Nigeria’s SEC or other reliable entities.
- A strong suite of forex pairs, such as NGN or those from nearby nations like ZAR.
- Simplified process for depositing funds, with an emphasis on widely-used local options such as PayPal.
- Sophisticated but intuitive charting tools for identifying and capitalizing on opportunities in the foreign exchange market.
- Favorable cost structure featuring narrow spreads, low deposit requirements, and transparency regarding additional fees.
FAQ
Is Forex Trading In Nigeria Legal?
There are no legal restrictions banning forex trading in Nigeria, so you are free to sign up with an online broker and speculate on currency prices.
Who Regulates Forex Trading In Nigeria?
Oversight of forex trading activities falls under the purview of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of Nigeria. These institutions are responsible for supervising the nation’s financial markets and establishing the regulations that forex trading platforms must adhere to.
However, the regulatory environment in Nigeria is not as robust as it is in other jurisdictions. Therefore, forex traders should proceed with caution and diligently investigate brokers before depositing funds.
How Much Money Do I Need To Start Forex Trading In Nigeria?
The amount you need to start forex trading in Nigeria depends on the broker you sign up with; some require higher amounts of $250 or more (around 400,000 Naira), while others like XTB allow you to open an account with no minimum deposit, making them attractive to newer traders.
Recommended Reading
Article Sources
- Nigeria's Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
- Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)
- Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Scam Alert
- Nigeria Communications Week Illicit Investment Platforms
The writing and editorial team at DayTrading.com use credible sources to support their work. These include government agencies, white papers, research institutes, and engagement with industry professionals. Content is written free from bias and is fact-checked where appropriate. Learn more about why you can trust DayTrading.com