Best Forex Brokers in Nigeria

When it comes to forex trading in Nigeria, safety is key, especially when depositing your funds.

Don’t have the time to go through the complete guide? The broker FxPro is the overall best forex broker based on a range of factors.

Beware of scam brokers, as depositing funds with them is risky and you can lose your money.

To safeguard your funds, it is important to choose only top tier regulated brokers, such as those regulated by the FCA, FSCA, ASIC, or CySEC. These reputable authorities ensure low-risk trading environments and protect your deposited funds.

• We’ve cleared forex backlogs – CBN
• FG, lab four sign pact to attract $1.2bn forex, 50,000 jobs

List of Best Forex Brokers in Nigeria

• FxPro – Overall Best Forex Broker Nigeria
• HF Markets – Best Forex Broker in Nigeria for Beginners
• Exness – Best Forex Broker in Nigeria for Overnight Trading
• XM Broker – Best Forex Broker with Spread Only Accounts
• OctaFX – Best Forex Broker for Low Fees
• IC Markets – Best Forex Broker for ECN Account
• AvaTrade – Best Fixed Spread Forex Broker
• FXTM – Good Forex Broker with Local Deposit & Withdrawals

We cover the brokers one by one, that meet the regulatory standards. By trading with regulated brokers, you can minimize the risk of falling prey to scams and have a secure trading experience.

1. FxPro – Overall Best Forex Broker Nigeria

 Key facts about FxPro

• Regulations – FCA, CySEC, FSCA, FSC Mauritius
• Minimum Deposit – $100
• Trading Charges – Spreads, Commissions and Overnight Fees
• Local Payments Method – Yes
• Leverage 1:200

Start trading on FxPro

1. a) Pick an Instrument

FxPro gives you exposure to trade 2100+ markets without necessarily owning the underlying instrument (CFD trading). You can choose to trade Forex CFDs, Crypto CFDs, Indices CFDs, Commodity CFDs, or Share CFDs.

1. b) Check the fees for your selected instrument

Fees for an instrument also depend on your account type. Spread & overnight fees are constant, but commission depends on if you opened a Standard Account (Zero Commission) or Raw Account ($3.5 per side commission).

See below table of spread for some popular instruments & their leverage (ratio of borrowed funds from FxPro)

FxPro Spread explained: EUR/USD spread of 1.5 pips means that you pay $15 (meaning 1.5 pips x $10) to FxPro every time you trade 100,000 units of the EUR/USD pair using a USD base currency account. When you trade below 100,000 units you pay less spread as per proportion.

FxPro Leverage explained: a leverage of 1:200 means that for every $1 you have, FxPro will borrow you $200 for trading purposes.

1. c) Automatically exit your trade when loss or profit limit is reached

81% of retail traders lose money trading CFDs on FxPro. Set a Stop Loss (SL) order to automatically exit your trade when losses are mounting.

When trading EUR/USD, FxPro says you must place your stop loss at least 2.4 pips away from your entry price. This means that you must be prepared to lose at least $0.24 USD on every trade (meaning 2.4 pips ÷ 10)

Table of where you can place Stop Loss on FxPro as per different instruments

You can also set a Take Profit (TP) to exit the automatically market with your profits when your profit limit is reached.

Pros & Cons

FxPro Pros

• Top regulation from the UK
• Set an automatic SL order to close your trades when losing money
• Good risk management with low 1:200 leverage
• Stop loss restrictions prevent you from setting stop loss too close to entry price and getting stopped out frequently as a result.
• Proprietary mobile app with 10 million downloads on google play store, MetaTrader4/5 & cTrader platforms are available
• FxPro Accounts are designed to accommodate hedging & netting trading styles
• Quick trading & One-tap trading trade settings

Cons

• High minimum deposit
• Inactivity fee of $10
• FxPro trading accounts don’t have Naira as their operating currency
• No withdrawals without trading
• No bonus on deposits

Visit FxPro at www.fxpro.com for more information

2. HF Markets – Best Forex Broker in Nigeria for Beginners

Key facts about HF Markets

• Regulations – FCA, CMA Kenya, FSCA South Africa, CySEC, FSCA, DFSA, SVGFSA
• Minimum Deposit – $5
• Trading Charges – Spreads & Commissions (No overnight fees)
• Local Payments Method – Yes
• Leverage – 1:2000

Start trading on HF Markets

1. a) Pick an Instrument

Choose from an array of CFDs and trade without owning the underlying instrument (only speculate on if instrument value will rise or fall and get compensated if you are correct).

You can trade CFDs with the following underlying instruments: Forex, Commodities, Indices, Stocks, Bonds, and ETFs.

HF Markets lets you use leverage up to 1:2000 implying that for every $1 in your trading account, HF Markets will borrow you up to $2,000 to trade with.

1. b) Check the fees for your selected instrument

HF Markets fee structure is account type dependent. However, overnight fees are not charged on all trading accounts (in Nigeria only).

Commissions: can reach up to $3 per side but the Cent, Premium, Pro, & Pro-Plus Accounts don’t charge commissions on forex trades.  Only the Zero Spread Account charges commissions on forex trades.

Spread: starts from 1.2 pips on the Premium & Cent Accounts. On the Zero Account spread starts from 0.1 pips but you pay commissions on forex trades.

The Pro Account spread starts from 0.6 pips upwards and the Pro-Plus Account starts from 0.2 pips upwards without you being asked to pay commissions on forex trades.

Example of spread calculation on HF Markets

Assume you are trading 100,000 units of EUR/USD using the HF Markets Pro Account where spreads start at 0.6 pips.

The spread you will pay to HF Markets for trading a standard lot size of 100,000 units will be 0.6 x $10 = $6

However, you can trade as little as 0.01 of a standard lot meaning 0.01 of 100,000 units so you pay lesser spread of 0.01 x$6 = $0.06

In summary the spread can be lower when you trade smaller lot sizes instead of trading large sizes.

1. c) Automatically exit your trade loss/profit limit is reached

71.15% of retail traders lose money trading CFDs at HF Markets. To minimize your losses HF Markets allows you to set Stop Loss (SL) Orders to automatically close your trade when losses cross the stop price you had specified.

You can also set a TP order to automatically exit the market when your profits reach a desired amount. HF Markets have Stop Loss restrictions, so you don’t place your SL too close to the entry price and get stopped out frequently.

Pros & Cons

HF Markets Pros

• Beginner oriented Cent Account type
• Automatically exit trades when losses start to occur
• Top regulation from UK, Kenya & South Africa
• Withdraw your money when you want without any fees or penalty
• No overnight fees
• Low minimum deposit
• Your trading account can be operated in Naira currency
• Top-up bonus on deposits via the Top-up Account type which you use to trade with the bonus
• Quick trading & custom order entry in amount, lots, or sizes

HF Markets Cons

• High spreads on some account types
• You cannot withdraw without trading
• $5 monthly inactivity fee for leaving your account inactive for 3 months and above

Visit HF Markets website hfm.com/sv/en-ng/ for more information

3. Exness – Best Forex Broker in Nigeria for Overnight Trading

Key facts about Exness

• Regulations – FCA, FSCA South Africa, CMA Kenya, CySEC Cyprus
• Minimum Deposit – $10
• Trading Charges – Spreads & Commissions
• Local Payments Method – Yes
• Leverage- 1: 2000

If your trading style involves leaving trades open till the next day, Exness fee structure is ideal. Exness does not charge overnight fees and charges low spreads across its different account types.

Start trading on Exness

1. a) Pick an Instrument

Exness lets you trade without owning the underlying asset, which is more cost effective. However, since you are trading with leverage up to 1:2000 it is riskier.

Exness leverage of 1:2000 means Exness borrows you $2,000 for every $1 in your trading account. Your profit/loss is multiplied by 2000 times.

CFD instruments on Exness are Forex, Indices, Stocks, Commodities, & Crypto.

1. b) Check the fees for your selected instrument

Some Exness accounts are commission-free while some charge a combo of low spreads & commissions. Overnight fees are zero when you trade CFDs on all major/some minor Forex pairs, Crypto, Indices, & Gold.

Commission-free Exness Accounts: these are the Standard Cent, Standard, & Pro Exness Accounts. These accounts charge only spread.

Commission plus spread accounts are the Pro, Raw, & Zero Account types.

On the Spread-only Accounts, spreads start from 0.6 pips on Standard Accounts and from 0.6 pips on the Pro Account.

On the Commission plus spread Accounts, spreads start from 0.0 pips on the Raw & Zero Account types and commissions start from $3.5 per side and upwards.

Calculation of spread on Exness

For example, when you trade EUR/USD using the Standard Account you pay a 1.0 pip spread to Exness.

• This means if you trade a standard lot of 100,000 units of EUR/USD you pay $10 to Exness as spread (meaning 1.0 pips x $10)
• This also means if you trade a smaller size like 0.01 units of a standard lot, you pay $0.1 as spread to Exness (meaning 0.01 x S10)

If you should trade 100,000 units of EUR/USD using the Pro Account, you pay 0.6 pips spread to Exness

• This means if you trade a standard lot of 100,000 units of EUR/USD you pay $6 to Exness as spread (meaning 0.6 pips x $10)
• This also means if you trade a smaller size like 0.01 units of a standard lot, you pay $0.06 as spread to Exness (meaning 0.01 x S6)

1. c) Automatically exit your trade loss/profit limit is reached

Exness lets you set Stop Loss (SL) automated orders, so your trade is quickly closed by the system when losses reach a predefined Stop Price.

Exness does not have Stop Loss restrictions so you can place your stop loss very close to your entry price.

Take Profit (TP) orders can also be automated such that your trade is closed once your desired profit is reached.

Pros & cons

Exness Pros

• Strong regulation from the United Kingdom, Kenya, & South Africa
• Cent Account for beginners
• One-click trading to quickly send your order to the market without setting Stop Loss then you edit the order later and set the Stop Loss
• Automatically exit the market when losses reach a certain amount
• Automatically take profits and exit the market when profits reach a certain amount
• No inactivity fee on dormant accounts
• Low fees (no overnight fees on most instruments & low spreads on many instruments)
• Good mobile app with inbuilt MT5 terminal and 10 million downloads on Google play store
• Your trading account can be operated in Naira currency, so you don’t pay conversion fees when you deposit & withdraw in naira
• Withdrawal requests are approved on weekends
• 24/7 support

Exness Cons

• High leverage
• No stop loss restrictions
• No bonus on deposits made

Visit the Exness website www.exness.com for more information

4. XM Broker – Best Forex Broker with Spread Only Accounts

• Regulations – FSCA South Africa, CySEC Cyprus, FSC Belize
• Minimum Deposit – $5
• Trading Charges – Spreads, Commissions and Overnight Fees
• Local Payments Method – No
• Leverage 1:1000

XM Broker Pros

• Regulated with CySEC
• No extra fees on deposits/withdrawals
• Spread only trading accounts are available
• No overnight fees on forex when you open the Ultra-low Account
• Bonus on deposits for both old and new customers
• Micro Account for those with low capital especially beginners
• Low minimum deposit of $5
• Product catalogue contains new CFD products like Thematic Indices

XM Broker Cons

• High trading fees with Micro account
• No NGN account currency
• Ultra-low accounts don’t qualify for deposit bonus
• Inactivity fee is $5 per month
• No raw spread accounts for high volume traders

XM has a platform for trading foreign exchange currency pairs and CFDs on metals, energies, indices, crypto, stocks, commodities, and shares.

XM is licensed by ASIC, a Tier-1 regulator. Nigerian traders are registered under XM regulation by FSC Belize as XM Global Limited.

Trading Fees

Spreads on the Ultra-low Account start from 0.6 pips upwards plus Ultra-low Accounts are also swap-free on major forex & Gold trades.

Spreads on the Micro Account & Standard Account start at 1.0 pips upwards and there is no swap-free trading.

See below spreads on XM Micro Account for beginners:

Trading Features

• Trading App/Platforms: MetaTrader & Mobile app on Android & iOS.
• Local Funding & Withdrawal Methods: XM does not have the option for funding via Nigerian bank accounts, you can use cards and e-wallets. Deposits are credited instantly, and withdrawals take 24 hours to 5 business days to receive your money.
• Minimum deposit: the minimum deposit and withdrawal on XM is $5. While all deposits and withdrawals are free.
• Customer Support: XM offers 24/7 customer support via live chat, email and international phone numbers.

5. 5. OctaFX – Best Forex Broker for Low fees

• Regulations –CySEC, FSCA, SVGFSA
• Minimum Deposit – ₦30,000
• Trading Charges – Spreads only
• Local Payments Method – Yes
• Leverage 1:500

OctaFX Pros

• Low trading spreads on most currency pairs
• Local deposits & withdrawals via Nigerian banks
• 24/7 customer support
• No overnight fees
• Zero inactivity fees
• Octafx mobile app is popular with 10 million downloads on Google Play Store

OctaFX Cons

• No naira base currency
• Less regulated

Trade Forex CFDs, Index CFDs, Crypto CFDs, Metal CFDs, & energy CFDs when you register with Octafx.

OctaFX is licensed by CySEC, a Tier-2 regulator. Nigerian traders are registered under OctaFX regulation by FSA St. Vincent and Grenadines as Octa Markets Incorporated.

Trading Fees: OctaFX does not charge commissions on trades and no swap fees are incurred for keeping a position open overnight. Here are the average spreads on OctaFX:

1. Trading Features

• Trading App/Platforms: MT4, MT5, OctaFX Trader on Web, Desktop, Android & iOS.
• Local Funding & Withdrawal Methods: You can deposit and withdraw money on OctaFX through your Nigerian bank account or use cards and e-wallets. Deposits are credited within 3 minutes to 3 hours and withdrawals take about 1 business day to receive your money.
• Minimum deposit: the minimum deposit on OctaFX is ₦15,000 while the minimum withdrawal amount is ₦3,000.
• Customer Support: OctaFX customer support is on 24/7 via live chat and email.

6. IC Markets – Best Forex Broker for ECN Account

• Regulations – ASIC, CySEC, FSA Seychelles
• Minimum Deposit – $200
• Trading Charges – Spreads, Commissions and Swap Fees
• Local Payments Method – Yes

IC Markets Pros

• ASIC Regulated
• Low spreads with Pro Accounts
• No fees for deposits and withdrawals

IC Markets Cons

• The minimum deposit required for all accounts is very high for Nigerian traders
• No NGN base currency accounts

IC Markets offers trading services for foreign exchange, commodities, bonds, digital currencies, indices and stocks.  IC Markets is licensed by ASIC, a Tier-1 regulator.

Nigerian traders are registered under OctaFX regulation by FSA Seychelles as Raw Trading Ltd.

Trading Fees: The Raw Spreads Account charges $6-$7 commission per round-turn traded. You pay swap fees if you keep a trade position open past market closing time. Here are the average spreads for select instruments on the IC Markets Standard Account:

Trading Features

• Trading App/Platforms: MT4, MT5 and cTrader available on PC, Mac, Web, Android, & iOS.
• Local Funding & Withdrawal Methods: You use Nigerian bank transfers, cards or e-wallets to deposit and withdraw on IC Markets. Deposits are credited instantly or up to 5 business days and withdrawals take 3 to 15 business days to receive your money.
• Minimum deposit: the minimum deposit on FXTM is $200 while the minimum withdrawal amount is $50.
• Customer Support: IC Markets customer support is available 24/7 via live chat and email. You can also request a callback via email.

7. AvaTrade – Best Fixed Spread Forex Broker

• Regulations – ASIC, FCA, CySEC, FSCA, FSC BVI
• Minimum Deposit – $100
• Trading Charges – Spreads and Swap Fees
• Local Payments Method – Yes

AvaTrade Pros

• Local Phone Number in Nigeria for support
• AvaTrade is regulated with multiple tier-1 regulations
• Fixed spreads

AvaTrade Cons

• The support via phone & email is not 24 hours

AvaTrade is licensed by ASIC, a Tier-1 regulator. Nigerian traders are registered under AvaTrade regulation by FSC British Virgin Islands (BVI) as Ava Trade Markets Ltd.

Trading Fees: You pay swap fees for keeping a position open past the market’s closing time. Typical spreads on AvaTrade for some instruments are

Trading Features

• Trading App/Platforms: MetaTrader & AvaTradeGo app on mobile devices.
• Local Funding & Withdrawal Methods: AvaTrade allows you to deposit and withdraw money through Nigerian banks, you can also use cards or e-wallets. Deposits are credited within 24 hours or up to 10 business days and withdrawals take 5 to 10 business days to receive your money.
• Minimum deposit: The minimum deposit and withdrawal on AvaTrade is $100.
• Customer Support: AvaTrade offers live chat and email support from 5:00 to 21:00 GMT, Mondy to Friday, while their chatbot is available 24/5.

8. FXTM – Good Forex Broker with Local Deposit & Withdrawal

• Regulations – FCA, CySEC, FSCA, CMA, FSC Mauritius
• Minimum Deposit – ₦10,000
• Trading Charges – Spreads, Commissions and Swap Fees
• Local Payments Method – Yes

FXTM Pros

• Well regulated
• NGN base currency account is available
• Free deposits with bank transfers
• Local offices in Nigeria & phone no.

FXTM Cons

• High charges on trading with Micro account
• Fees on multiple withdrawal methods

FXTM offers forex trading, as well as CFDs on metals, indices and precious metals. FXTM is licensed by the FCA in the UK, a Tier-1 regulator. Nigerian traders are registered under FXTM regulation by FSC Mauritius as Exinity Limited.

Trading Fees: FXTM Advantage Account charges commissions from $0.40 to $2 per lot side traded. There are also spreads and swap fees on all accounts.

See Micro Account typical spreads:

Trading Features

• Trading App/Platforms: FXTM supports MT4, MT5, and its own proprietary FXTM Trader platform. Available on the web, desktop, and mobile devices.
• Local Funding & Withdrawal Methods: FXTM allows you to deposit and withdraw money through local Nigerian banks, you can also use cards or e-wallets. Deposits are credited instantly, and withdrawals take 24 hours to 1 business day to receive your money.
• Minimum deposit: the minimum deposit on FXTM is ₦10,000 while the minimum withdrawal amount is ₦1,000. While all deposits are free, FXTM charges fees for some withdrawal methods.
• Customer Support: FXTM offers 24/5 customer support via live chat, email and local phone numbers in Nigeria.

What to consider in a Forex Broker in Nigeria?

Choosing the right forex broker in Nigeria is crucial for a successful trading journey. In your search for the perfect broker, there are several key factors to consider. Based on extensive research, the following points emerge as vital considerations:

1. Regulations: Regulation is of utmost importance when selecting a forex broker. Look for brokers regulated by reputable authorities such as the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), or other top-tier regulators. Beware of offshore brokers with questionable or fake regulation claims. Authentic regulation ensures that the broker operates with transparency, adheres to strict standards, and provides a level of security for your funds.

1. Cost of Trading: It is important to evaluate the costs associated with trading, including spreads, swaps, and commissions.

For example, if a broker offers a spread of 1 pip for EUR/USD, it means that when you buy EUR/USD, the price will be 1 pip higher than the current market rate.

Some brokers charge a separate commission per lot traded, in addition to the spread. For example, a broker might charge a commission of $7 per lot traded.

Swap fees, also called overnight financing fees, are charges when holding positions overnight. Positive swaps occur when the bought currency has a higher interest rate, while negative swaps happen if the sold currency has a higher rate.

Lower spreads, swaps and commissions can be advantageous for traders, as they reduce the overall cost of entering and exiting trades.

1. Total No. Of Currency pairs: The availability of currency pairs is another essential aspect to consider. A wide range of currency pairs allows for diversification and the opportunity to explore various trading strategies. Check if the broker offers major, minor, and exotic currency pairs that suit your trading preferences.

1. Ease of Signup: Consider the ease and efficiency of the broker’s signup process. Time and document requirements can vary among brokers. Some brokers have simplified and streamlined procedures, enabling quick verification and account activation. Look for user-friendly platforms that minimize paperwork and offer a straightforward signup experience.

1. Account Types: Explore the different account types offered by the broker. From standard accounts to VIP or Islamic accounts, assess which account type aligns with your trading style, preferences, and investment goals. Consider factors such as minimum deposit requirements, leverage options, and additional features associated with each account type.

1. Customer Support: Reliable customer support is essential when navigating the forex market. Look for brokers that offer responsive and accessible customer support. Check if they provide multiple channels of communication, such as live chat, email, or phone support. Prompt and knowledgeable customer support can make a significant difference when you need assistance or have questions about trading operations.

Comparison of Best Forex Brokers in Nigeria

How to Open Account with Forex Broker in Nigeria?

Opening an account with a Forex broker in Nigeria involves several steps. Here is a simple list of the process:

1. Select a regulated broker: Choose a Forex broker regulated by top-tier authorities such as the FCA, CySEC or ASIC. Regulated brokers like HotForex (HFM) offer a higher level of security and adhere to strict financial standards.
2. Decide on account type: Determine whether you want to open a real trading account or a demo account. A demo account allows you to practice trading with virtual funds, while a real trading account involves trading with actual money.
3. Complete the registration process: To open a real trading account, you will need to complete the Know Your Customer (KYC) process. This typically involves providing personal information, proof of identity (such as a passport or driver’s license), and proof of address (such as a utility bill or bank statement).
4. Download the trading app or MetaTrader: Once your account is approved, you will need to download the trading platform provided by the broker. Most brokers offer their own proprietary trading platforms or support popular platforms like MetaTrader 4 (MT4) or MetaTrader 5 (MT5).
5. Deposit funds: Fund your trading account by depositing funds. Brokers usually offer various payment methods such as bank transfers, credit/debit cards, or e-wallets. Choose the convenient method for you and follow the instructions provided by the broker to make the deposit.
6. Place your orders: With funds in your account, you can start trading. Familiarize yourself with the trading platform and its features. Analyze the market, choose the currency pairs you want to trade and place your orders accordingly. You can enter market orders, limit orders, or stop orders depending on your trading strategy.

FAQs – Best Forex Brokers in Nigeria

What is a Forex Broker?

A Forex broker is a financial institution or company that acts as an intermediary between traders and the global foreign exchange market.

They provide individuals and institutions with access to trade various currency pairs, allowing them to speculate on the price movements of currencies.

Which Forex Brokers are Safe in Nigeria?

In Nigeria, the forex brokers Exness, HF Markets, FxPro are considered safe. It is important to choose Forex brokers that prioritize safety and security.

The safest brokers are those regulated by top-tier regulatory bodies, such as the FCA, ASIC, and CySEC. These regulations ensure that brokers adhere to strict financial standards and offer a level of protection to traders.

Which Forex Brokers have Naira Accounts?

Several Forex brokers offer Naira accounts, allowing Nigerian traders to deposit and withdraw funds in their local currency.

Some popular brokers that provide Naira accounts include FXTM, HotForex, and Exness.

Having a Naira account can simplify transactions and eliminate the need for currency conversion, making it more convenient for Nigerian traders.

Which Forex Brokers have the lowest spreads in Nigeria?

The spread is a significant factor in trading costs, and lower spreads can be advantageous for traders.

While spread levels can vary depending on market conditions and account types, some Forex brokers known for offering competitive spreads in Nigeria include Exness, OctaFX, AvaTrade, and HF Markets.

It’s important to note that spreads may vary across different currency pairs, so it’s recommended to compare the spreads for the specific currency pairs you intend to trade.