Economy
Nigeria Must Adopt Dual Circulation Economy to Prosper—Sekibo
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The Managing Director of Heritage Bank Plc, Mr Ifie Sekibo, has advised the federal government to adopt a dual circulation economic strategy like China to attain prosperity.
A dual circulation economy involves growing exports and expanding domestic demands from locally produced items by building higher consumption almost at the same time.
For Mr Sekibo, this strategy will work well in Nigeria because the country has the population to soak the pressure.
Speaking at an event organised by The Men’s League of Christ Church Port Harcourt, Rivers State, he also stressed that the government must address security challenges and leadership issues as they remain very critical for the success of the economic model.
At the programme themed What do Nigerians Want,? Mr Sekibo said, “On a higher note, I think one of the things that we need to achieve as a country is the issue of functional and value-adding identity management, which is still far away from us, although, some people know that we have BVN, NIMC and a few other identity capture systems they have not been as functional and value-adding, like the social security number that most people in advanced economies carry.”
The Heritage Bank chief, who was represented by the Divisional Head of Strategy and Business Solutions of the bank, Mr Segun Akanji, further explained that to achieve a prosperous economy, Nigeria needs to find ways and means by policies to build a dual circulation economy which thrives on three pillars.
According to him, the country needs to focus on building a dual circulation economy where it can expand domestic production and demand by making sure that the masses are employed.
“We need to make our people productive and stop putting subsidies in unproductive zones. When you give subsidies to people with inadequate or no income, they really cannot add value to the economy, and money has a way of flowing away due to the import of consumables from other countries and because of this, a larger portion of every consumption or cash given as subsidy gets out of the country,” Mr Sekibo stated while delivering a paper titled The Economy Nigeria Needs to Break Forth.
The bank’s helmsman further explained that to expand the domestic production, the government must give the private sector support to drive employment creation, technology, which is riding on innovation and manufacturing must be in place and, the population which is an added advantage must be well educated.
He highlighted the need to examine how the country could add value to primary production for global export, emphasizing on reduction of over-dependence on foreign markets but rather increasing local production for export, whilst also increasing demand for local products.
Mr Sekibo further affirmed that if states could function as proper federating units and take the lead of the competitive comparative advantages therein, wealth creation would be achieved that would bring about the desired changes.
Also speaking at the event, the former Governor of Anambra State and presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general elections, Mr Peter Obi, agreed with Mr Sekibo that the country must address the issues of insecurity and leadership deficiency in order to prosper.
He lamented the huge indebtedness of the country, which he blamed on unproductivity due to the inimical situation of a high unemployment rate resulting in over 80 million Nigerians being jobless.
According to him, cumulative failure of the government over the years plunged Nigeria into insecurity, noting that other factors include the failure to migrate from sharing formula to production formula and lack of will to transform the power sector and the need to focus and support the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
On his part, a clergyman, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, harped on the need for leadership change, arguing that what the country needs now are leaders who have a vision and are ready to sacrifice for the common man, stating, “things must be done differently”.
Also speaking, Prof. Oyelowo Oyewo submitted that the police, power provision and railway must be decentralised as this will make states to be less dependence on the centre.
He maintained that regions are closer to the people and will boost security, the economy and the sense of belonging by the populace. He also identified data and planning as key factors in ensuring that programmes are tailored towards the people.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Nigeria’s crude oil production increased in May and June, according to data published by the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
The country’s output increased by 42,000 barrels per day to 1,530 million barrels in May, from 1,489 million barrels in April.
According to Reuters, Nigeria, whose shipments were not affected by the Iran war, also pumped more in June, based on flow data from financial group LSEG, information from other companies that track flows, such as Kpler, and data provided by sources at oil companies, OPEC, and consultants.
Output from the OPEC rose by 2.34 million barrels a day to 18.75 million a day, with the gains driven by Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Iran, the survey showed. The rebound still leaves production considerably below prewar levels.
Kuwait posted the biggest increase among OPEC’s 11 members last month, boosting output by 870,000 barrels a day to 1.36 million a day followed by Saudi Arabia, which raised output by 550,000 barrels a day to an average of 7.2 million a day. That was followed by Iran, which hiked by 510,000 a day to pump 2.85 million a day, and has accumulated a hoard of supply on tankers at sea as it struggles to find buyers.
In the wider alliance, Russia has bolstered crude exports to record levels following Ukrainian strikes on its refineries, potentially diverting volumes that can’t be processed at home.
Even before the peace deal, Persian Gulf producers had found ways to sneak cargoes out through the strait, which was largely shuttered in the early stages of the conflict.
The uptick in supply is creating a surplus in parts of the market, erasing crude’s wartime rally and raising the question of whether OPEC nations will need to compete for customers.
The group’s June production was still 7.3 million barrels a day, or 28 per cent, below February levels, when adjusted for exit by the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The UAE quit OPEC in May, giving it the freedom to pump at will once the strait fully stabilises. Iraq also briefly threatened it could exit unless eventually given a higher output quota by the organisation.
On Sunday, a subgroup of seven OPEC+ nations announced a 188,000 barrels a day boost in August continuing the series of small and symbolic production hikes during the war to continue a process of restoring output halted a few years ago.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Shareholders of Dangote Cement Plc have approved plans that could pave the way for the company’s secondary listing on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) while also endorsing a final dividend of N45.00 per ordinary share for the 2025 financial year.
The resolutions were passed at the company’s 17th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on Thursday at Eko Hotels & Suites in Lagos, where shareholders also approved the audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2025.
The approval for an international secondary listing marks a significant step in Dangote Cement’s plans to broaden its access to global capital markets and enhance its international investor base.
In May, the company’s founder Mr Aliko Dangote said the cement subsidiary was planning a London listing to sell 10 per cent stake, sixteen years after debuting on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited. This would provide the company with the much-needed boost to compete in the United Kingdom market.
Shareholders also ratified the payment of a final dividend of N45.00 per ordinary share from the company’s retained earnings as of December 31, 2025. The dividend was paid on Thursday, July 2, 2026.
At the meeting, shareholders approved the appointment of Ms Mariya Aliko-Dangote to the company’s board of directors. In recent months, the eldest daughter of the billionaire as well as her sisters Halima and Fatima, have been strategically positioned across their father’s empire in what has been touted as succession plans.
They also re-elected four directors retiring by rotation: Mr Emmanuel Ikazoboh, an Independent Non-Executive Director; Mr Olakunle Alake, a Non-Executive Director; Ms Berlina Moroole, a Non-Executive Director; and Mr Alvaro Poncioni Merian, an Independent Non-Executive Director.
In addition, shareholders authorised the board to determine the remuneration of the company’s external auditors for the 2026 financial year.
The AGM also noted the disclosure of managers’ remuneration in compliance with the provisions of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020.
Shareholders further approved the election of Mr Robert Ade-Odiachi, Mr Sheriff Yussuf Mojirola and Mr Nicholas Nyamali as shareholders’ representatives on the Statutory Audit Committee. They will serve alongside the company’s representatives, Mr Ernest Ebi and Mr Olakunle Alake, until the next AGM.
They also approved annual remuneration of N20 million for the chairman and N15 million each for the non-executive directors for the financial year ending December 31, 2026.
By Dipo Olowookere
The activity level on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited improved last week after market participants traded 3.821 billion stocks worth N154.393 billion in 258,567 deals compared with the 2.324 billion stocks valued at N134.486 billion transacted in 249,328 deals in the preceding week.
Analysis showed that financial equities dominated with 2.330 billion units sold for N54.606 billion in 108,978 deals, accounting for 60.99 per cent and 35.37 per cent of the total trading volume and value, respectively.
Services stocks recorded a turnover of 509.473 million units worth N16.353 billion in 16,527 deals, and consumer goods shares recorded 216.344 million units valued at N8.057 billion in 25,963 deals.
Sterling Holdings, Access Holdings, and Ikeja Hotel were the busiest stocks, accounting for 1.405 billion units worth N28.370 billion in 12,898 deals, contributing 36.78 per cent and 18.37 per cent to the total trading volume and value, respectively.
The best-performing equity for the week was Airtel Africa, which gained 21.00 per cent to sell for N5,274.00. Regency Assurance grew by 20.25 per cent to 95 Kobo, UPDC expanded by 12.31 per cent to N3.65, DAAR Communications rose by 7.84 per cent to N1.65, and SUNU Assurances increased by 7.50 per cent to N3.87.
The worst-performing equity was International Energy Insurance, which fell by 18.83 per cent to N4.70, McNichols slumped by 18.60 per cent to N7.00, University Press crashed by 17.54 per cent to N4.70, RT Briscoe dipped by 13.98 per cent to N10.15, and UPDC REIT moderated by 13.00 per cent to N8.70.
Business Post reports that 22 shares appreciated during the week, the same as the previous week, and 57 equities depreciated, the same as a week earlier, while 67 stocks remained unchanged, the same as the preceding week.
The All-Share Index (ASI) and the market capitalisation closed lower by 1.21 per cent in the five-day trading week to 229,240.34 points and N147.103 trillion, respectively.
Similarly, all other indices finished lower apart from the main board, which chalked up 2.27 per cent.
-
Feature/OPED6 years agoDavos was Different this year
-
Travel/Tourism10 years ago
Lagos Seals Western Lodge Hotel In Ikorodu
-
Showbiz4 years agoEstranged Lover Releases Videos of Empress Njamah Bathing
-
Banking8 years agoSort Codes of GTBank Branches in Nigeria
-
Economy3 years agoSubsidy Removal: CNG at N130 Per Litre Cheaper Than Petrol—IPMAN
-
Banking3 years agoSort Codes of UBA Branches in Nigeria
-
Banking3 years agoFirst Bank Announces Planned Downtime
-
Sports3 years agoHighest Paid Nigerian Footballer – How Much Do Nigerian Footballers Earn