Economy
Experts Task Incoming Administration on Inflation, Debt
By Adedapo Adesanya
On Monday, May 29, Nigeria will get a new president as President Muhammadu Buhari will vacate office after eight years for his successor, President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a transition that comes with a lot of burdens.
Mr Tinubu, a member of Mr Buhari’s All Progressives Congress (APC), was announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the winner of the February 25 election, defeating Mr Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party’s Mr Peter Obi.
However, the country faces massive headwinds of problems, including surging inflation and piling debt, which analysts who spoke to Business Post said are the top priority for Mr Tinubu’s administration.
In April, Nigeria’s headline inflation rate increased to 22.22 per cent as it increased by 0.18 per cent compared to the March 2023 headline inflation rate of 22.04 per cent. The NBS said on a year-on-year basis; the headline inflation rate was 5.40 per cent points higher compared to the rate recorded in April 2022, which was 16.82 per cent.
Plans by the country to control inflation and strengthen the Naira have seen interest rates raised for an unprecedented seventh consecutive time.
However, there are yet no signals that inflation will slow anytime soon, meaning the country will likely hike the rate further after research showed the increase in borrowing costs is yielding results.
The monetary policy committee on Wednesday lifted the benchmark rate by half a percentage point to 18.50 per cent, Governor Godwin Emefiele said in Abuja.
With the end in sight, Mr Buhari pleaded with lawmakers to hurriedly approve an $800 million loan from the World Bank, a move that could see Nigeria’s public debt pass $150 billion this year from over $60 billion when he took over.
His borrowing spree has drawn warnings from the World Bank that Africa’s largest economy was using 96 per cent of its revenue to service debts.
Earlier this month, the Budget Office of the Federation told the incoming legislature, which approves the country’s borrowing needs, that Nigeria’s debt-to-revenue ratio was worsening and could spell doom if the country exceeds its limit.
“We now have very limited borrowing space, not because our debt to GDP is high but because our revenue is too small to sustain the size of our debt. That explains our high debt service ratio. Once a country’s debt service ratio exceeds 30 per cent, that country is in trouble, and we are pushing towards 100 per cent, and that tells you how much trouble we are in,” the Director-General of the Budget Office, Mr Ben Akabueze, said.
Speaking to Business Post, Mr Akin Fatunke, a chartered accountant and public affairs analyst, said the country needed the incoming administration to take the bull by the horn.
“Economic viability should be hinged on efficient loan and self-sufficiency management geared towards investments at the commanding heights. West Africa has too many nation-states, many of which are simply not economically viable.
“I look at how Giuseppe Garibaldi masterminded the unification of Italy and how Otto Von Bismarck masterminded the unification of Germany, I look forward to a Nigerian hero masterminding the unification of West Africa,” he said in a correspondence to Business Post.
He tasked the incoming president to “Build a global economic giant that will rival the likes of China and India with their populations that are in excess of one billion people.”
On his part, Mr Nelson Ekujumi, a business and public affairs analyst, was optimistic about the capabilities of the incoming administration, noting that, “The incoming administration as headed by President-elect Asiwaju Bola Tinubu (GCFR) and Vice President-elect Senator Kashim Shettima (GCON) are astute accountant and economist technocrats respectively who are well versed in financial matters and I have a strong optimism that Nigeria’s debt will be tackled.”
He expects them to “plug economic loopholes to generate more sources of revenue that will limit our borrowing and put in place measures to ensure greater productivity and make life affordable and accessible such that the cost of living will be on a manageable scale for a vast majority of Nigerians.
“The factors engendering high cost of living is expected to be tackled frontally to arrest and reduce inflation.”
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) has expressed optimism for significant business growth and economic development in 2025.
In his New Year’s message, the ACCI President, Mr Emeka Obegolu, lauded the resilience of the business community in overcoming the economic challenges of 2024.
He commended the business community in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and its environs, for their commitment to innovation and growth, while expressing hope for renewed opportunities in the New Year.
He called on governments at all levels to harmonise tax policies and address the challenges of multiple taxation and high operational costs.
He also urged the administration of President Bola Tinubu to prioritise improving the ease of doing business and Nigeria’s global competitiveness.
“Streamlining regulations, eliminating administrative bottlenecks, and implementing business-friendly policies are crucial steps.
“The government should also improve access to financing and establish a reliable database of active businesses to support Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), which play a vital role in the Nigerian economy,” Mr Obegolu said.
He also commended the N4.06 trillion allocation for infrastructure in the 2025 budget.
He noted its potential to boost productivity, create jobs, and foster economic growth in sectors such as transport, energy, and housing.
He welcomed the government’s macroeconomic stabilisation goals, including reducing inflation and stabilising the exchange rate, as crucial steps toward improving the business environment and attracting investment.
Mr Obegolu emphasised the importance of effective budget implementation, advising the government to adhere to timelines, ensure transparency, and adopt a results-driven approach to maximise the impact of allocated funds.
He also called for cautious revenue projections, improved collection mechanisms to reduce leakages and the adoption of balanced tax policies that supported businesses.
The ACCI president reaffirmed the Chamber’s commitment to collaborating with the government to align policies with business realities and promote private-sector-led growth.
He also advocated for increased investments in green initiatives and inclusive strategies to benefit rural and marginalised communities.
“On behalf of the Executive Council and members of ACCI, I wish Nigerians a prosperous and fulfilling 2025, filled with growth, innovation, and success,” he said.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange was pulled down by 0.70 per cent by profit-takers in the final trading session of 2024 on Tuesday, December 31.
As a result of this, the bourse’s investors lost N7.29 billion, leaving the market capitalisation at N1.029 trillion compared with the preceding day’s N1.036 trillion.
In the same vein, the NASD Unlisted Security Index (NSI) went down by 21.25 points at the close of business to 3,002.68 points from the 3,023.93 points recorded at the previous session.
Business Post the alternative stock exchange recorded five price losers, with Acorn Petroleum Plc declining by 14 Kobo to trade at N1.40 per share, in contrast to Monday’s closing value of N1.54 per share.
Further, UBN Property Plc lost 16 Kobo to end at N1.82 per unit compared with the previous session’s N1.98 per unit, Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc weakened by 90 Kobo to N21.00 per share from N21.90 per share, 11 Plc lost N4.00 to close at N211.00 per unit versus the previous day’s N215.00 per unit, and FrieslandCampina Wamco Nigeria Plc crashed by 39 Kobo to finish at N40.61 per share, in contrast to the preceding session’s N41.00 per share.
Conversely, Industrial and General Insurance (IGI) Plc appreciated by 2 Kobo to end the session at 17 Kobo per unit compared with Monday’s closing price of 15 Kobo per unit, Air Liquide Plc improved by 80 Kobo to N8.80 per share from the preceding closing rate of N8.00 per share and Geo-Fluids Plc rose by 29 Kobo to sell at N3.34 per unit versus N3.05 per unit.
Yesterday, the volume of securities traded in the final session of the year depreciated by 0.64 per cent to 2.68 million units from 2.70 million units, and the value of shares traded yesterday went down by 37.50 per cent to N9.2 million from N14.7 million, while the number of deals increased by 59.1 per cent to 35 deals from 22 deals.
Aradel Holdings Plc, which exited the market a few months ago, remained the most active stock by value (year-to-date) with 108.7 million units worth N89.2 billion, trailed by Okitipupa Plc with 752.4 million units valued at N7.8 billion, and Afriland Properties Plc with 297.7 million units sold for N5.3 billion.
Also, Geo-Fluids Plc remained the most active stock by volume (year-to-date) with 1.7 billion units worth N4.0 billion, trailed by Okitipupa Plc with 752.4 million units valued at N7.8 billion, and Afriland Properties Plc with 297.7 million units sold for N5.3 million.
By Dipo Olowookere
The last trading session of 2024 on the floor of the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited ended on a bearish note on Tuesday with a 0.22 per cent loss.
The decline occurred despite the bourse closing with 36 appreciating stocks and 27 depreciating stocks, implying a positive market breadth index and strong investor sentiment.
Eterna and Union Dicon Salt topped the losers’ chart after they shed 10.00 per cent each to settle at N24.30 and N7.20 apiece, Champion Breweries lost 8.19 per cent to trade at N3.81, PZ Cussons depreciated by 6.90 per cent to N24.30 and Cadbury Nigeria tumbled by 6.52 per cent to N21.50.
On the flip side, Prestige Assurance, Beta Glass, and Universal Insurance gained 10.00 per cent each to quote at N1.21, N64.90, and 66 Kobo, respectively, as Okomu Oil grew by 9.98 per cent to N444.00, and Thomas Wyatt increased by 9.88 per cent to N1.89.
Yesterday, the insurance space gained 4.93 per cent, the energy index rose by 0.43 per cent, and the industrial goods counter appreciated by 0.17 per cent.
However, the banking sector depreciated by 0.34 per cent and the consumer goods industry went down by 0.29 per cent.
At the close of transactions, the All-Share Index (ASI) shrank by 222.95 points to 102,926.40 points from 103,149.35 points and the market capitalisation decreased by N136 billion to N62.763 trillion from N62.899 trillion.
During the session, investors transacted 437.8 million shares valued at N40.3 billion in 8,830 deals, in contrast to the 641.1 million shares worth N15.5 billion traded in 13,778 deals in the preceding day, representing a jump in the trading value by 160.00 per cent, and a slip in the trading volume and number of deals by 31.71 per cent and 35.91 per cent, respectively.
Access Holdings finished the day as the busiest equity with 30.3 million units sold for N723.9 million, Universal Insurance traded 24.6 million units worth N16.1 million, Prestige Assurance exchanged 24.3 million units valued at N29.3 million, SAHCO transacted 22.2 million units worth N662.2 million, and Aradel Holdings traded 21.7 million units valued at N13.0 billion.
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