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FG Begins Rebooting Economy by Reviving Infrastructure

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By Dipo Olowookere

The Federal Government’s strategy of rebooting the economy through infrastructure development across the country has started yielding results as impressive figures came forth during the inspection of the highway projects in the South-East zone by the Hon. Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola.

The figures came from the restoration of lost jobs for construction workers, creation of indirect jobs through support workers like food vendors, suppliers of materials like sand, laterite, water tankers and improving demand and supply for allied businesses like diesel and fuel to power trucks, tractors, graders and milling machines among others.

According to the Minister, who made several stops to interact with Contractors, workers, members of the community around and journalists, injecting money into the economy by paying contractors who have not been paid for three years, who can now pay their workers, refinance their bank loans, and pay their suppliers have positive multiplier effects now gradually manifesting.

Such positive effect include improving the ease of doing business by reducing travel time on completed road sections, making uncompleted sections temporarily more motorable, reducing the cost of travel and movement of supplies including food and farm produce thus restoring production and ultimately growth to the economy.

Mr Fashola said in addition to restoring jobs and creating new ones, the Federal Government was committed to equitable distribution of infrastructural facilities across the nation’s six geopolitical zones.

Fielding questions after inspecting a section of the ongoing rehabilitation of Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway, Mr Fashola emphasized that the Federal Government, led by President Muhammadu Buhari, was not and would not be discriminatory in the allocation of developmental projects across the country irrespective of political affiliations.

The Minister told the newsmen in response to a question, “As I said when I visited the Imo State Government, which was where I started, our government is blind to party when it comes to development. Every state of this Federation is part of the constituency of the Federal Government and we have his mandate to partner and not to compete with them”.

“One of the things that I want to say at this time is that there is no part of the country that the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing is not doing one thing or the other”, he said adding that the mandate of the President was being executed nationwide through the Federal Controllers of Works in the states whom he described as Ambassadors of the Federal Government.

Mr Fashola, who expressed delight at the collaboration that was now emerging between the State commissioners of Works, Infrastructure and Transport “as designated” on one hand and the Federal Controllers of Works, said as such collaborations got better government would be able to overcome some of the challenges that had bogged down road development across the country.

The Minister, however, appealed to the commissioners of Works in the states to provide and sustain the collaboration by providing access and partnership with the Federal Controllers in their states whom, according to him, have been directed to make themselves available to support the states.

On why some of the Federal roads across some states never got adequate attention in spite of their economic importance, Mr Fashola noted that in the past, some of the funds provided for the interstate Federal roads were diverted to build community roads described as “spurs” while neglecting the interstate roads adding, however, that the Federal Government was poised to change such practice.

The Minister, who cited the Imo State situation as example, recalled, “What we saw was that in the past funds that were, perhaps, meant to build interstate roads, because that is our work, we noticed that those funds had gone to building intercommunity roads.”

“So, we saw on our records, Owerri-Umuahia Road under construction. But the truth is that no work is going on there; the work is going on in roads that lead to villages”, the Minister said pointing out that the funds would have been better used in building the Owerri-Umuahia Road that connects two big economies, and that probably would have connected them to Akwa Ibom and to Enugu states to facilitate more trade.

He declared, “The villages to which those roads were being built, what is the business there, there was only one person making coffin. But the main roads which would enhance commercial activities were not getting attention”, adding that even while those funds were being employed in doing community roads, the records being presented to the Federal Government were that the interstate roads were being done.

Stressing Federal Government’s determination to change the situation, Fashola again reiterated, “We have to focus on our own work and get the legislative arm to support us to focus on our own work to build roads that connect states, roads like Owerri- Umuahia-Okigwe, Enugu-Port Harcourt and so on. These are the roads we want to focus on”, adding that without prejudice to what the representatives of the people wanted to do at their local levels those were the roads that must take priority.

The Minister, however, clarified that using those funds meant for federal roads to do community roads should not be seen as diversion of funds since the community roads being built were part of national development but reemphasized that given the choices that must have to be made, roads that carry the heaviest traffic should take priority over others down the line.

Stressing the importance of positive and progressive thinking, Mr Fashola, who said he preferred giving hope to the people everywhere he went, added that whatever had made the contractors to stop work and abandon the sites was in the past as the present administration has come to change the situation.

The Minister told the newsmen, “Everywhere I go I bring hope. Let us stop talking negatively; what happened was yesterday. There was poor funding in the past but the contractors are getting money now. The Buhari Government is now paying contractors”.

As for how long the project would take to complete, Mr Fashola, who based it on how much and how soon more money would be made available to the contractors added, “But they are now getting money after not being paid for three years. From the very first budget that was passed in May last year, we have returned people to work”.

“You heard when the contractor was saying that they have recalled 335 of the workers they laid off. And the people of this community are benefitting by supplying water, gravel, vending food and other businesses. So the economy is on its way back. This is the way out of recession”, he said.

In all the project sites inspected, the Ministry had ensured that the Contractors transparently displayed details of the work being handled, budget releases, the states to be connected by the roads and the staff engaged. For example, the Rehabilitation of Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway Section III: Enugu-Lokpanta being handled by CGC Nigeria Ltd had such a board which indicated that the project which is located in the Southern part of Enugu State is the first section of the rehabilitation project of the dual carriageway connecting Enugu-Imo-Rivers from Enugu to Port Harcourt. It indicated that 252 direct jobs and 57 indirect jobs for Nigerians had been created through the project.

Similarly, Arab Contractors handling the Rehabilitation and Reconstruction of Enugu- Port Harcourt Dual Carriageway Section II : Umuahia Tower- Aba Township Rail/Road Bridge Crossing in Abia State has created 535 and 436 direct and indirect jobs respectively. On the construction of Abiriba-Arochukwu-Ohafia Road in Abia State, the local contracting firm Beks Kimse Nigeria Ltd has created 30 and 20 direct and indirect jobs respectively. Also in Abia State, the Rehabilitation and Reconstruction of Enugu-Port Harcourt Dual Carriage Section I : Lokpanta-Umuahia Tower in Abia State has generated 220 direct and 30 indirect jobs for residents.

Earlier, while on a courtesy call to the Imo State Governor, Mr Rochas Okorocha in Owerri, Mr Fashola had told the Deputy Governor of the state, Mr Eze Madumere, who stood in for the Governor, that he was in the State to see first-hand the projects being executed by the Federal Government and to reemphasize the assertion that the Federal Government was not discriminatory in its distribution of developmental projects.

At the direction of the Minister, the Federal Controller of Works in the State briefed the audience on the number and stage of work on the federal road projects in the State. According to the Works Controller, there are five federal road projects currently going on across the State and at different stages of completion.

They include the rehabilitation, expansion and improvement of Owerri-Ohafia Road which, according to him, is now 60 per cent complete, construction of Ikot-Ekpene Border-Aba-Owerri Dualization Section 1 Phase 1,which, he said was 22 per cent complete, construction of Mbaise -Ngwa Road Phases 1 and 2, 11 per cent complete, rehabilitation of Amawaisu-Ozuakoli Road, 60 per cent complete and Oba-Nnewi-Okigwe Road Section 2, 30 per cent complete.

Also according to him, assessment has been carried out on four other roads including Ihube-Okigwe and Aghara-Owerri Roads and proposals have been written and submitted to the headquarters of the Ministry for the rehabilitation of collapsed sections of the roads.

Speaking after the Controller of Works’ briefing, Mr Fashola added, “I think it is important to emphasize that, perhaps contrary to the impressions that may have been created in some quarters, it is now clear from the list of road projects in the state that the Federal Government is present here and in other states”.

“The question now see is the status of the projects and, perhaps, additional things that the states may want the Federal Government to do”, he said adding, “It is very fairly common knowledge that most of these roads had contractors who had left the sites over the last two to three years before the advent of this administration largely because they were not paid”.

The Minister explained further, “And as I reiterated at the inception of my tour of duty was that the quick starter was to remobilize those contractors back to site on the five roads and others for repairs in the state”, adding that because the 2016 budget did not come into force until sometime in May, 2016 while warrant for payment was issued in June and payment was made in July, mobilization of contractors was already facing some challenges because it was at the peak of the Rainy Season.

He, however, added that having operated the budget now for seven months, one of the things he had come to do in the State was to see for himself what was going on and to do some spot check, even though, according to him, “I get reports with photographs”.

He added, “But one other think I also wish to achieve is to continue to emphasize the importance of our Controllers of Works in various states. If we are going to make progress in providing support and partnership with state governments, the quickest way to do so is through the Controllers”.

“I have met with them, I have briefed them about the role that they will play as ambassadors of the Federal Government in the development and support of the state governments in infrastructure renewal”, Mr Fashola said reiterating that the Federal Government was not in competition with any state government.

He added, “We are partners in progress irrespective of the political parties we belong”, reiterating that the Controllers, whom he described as “our ambassadors”, have the clear mandate to go and support the State governments and not to oppose them. He also advised the State governments to report to him any difficulty they experienced with any of our controllers.

The Ministry, he said, was trying to develop a programme that would help the Controllers have, “not only the administrative and democratic authority and autonomy to take control of their states”, adding, “We are also hoping that in this fiscal year they would also have financial authority to support you. When that is concluded, I will announce the details of how it will be done”.

On the National Housing Programme as it concerned the State and others in the Zone, the Minister also asked the Federal Controllers of Housing in the States to brief with all reporting progress in the allocation and clearance of land in preparation for commencement of construction of buildings for the National Housing Programmes.

The Minister, however, noted that electricity still remained an issue, adding that in terms of expansion of the National Grid, progress was being made and the grid was getting bigger. He also said that gas supply was a challenge especially from the damage to the pipelines at the Forcados and Escravos.

Other challenges, the Minister said, included involvement in trying to solve disputes between geometric states over their power project adding that the case that arose out of the dispute has now been taken out of court and the parties have agreed to settle.

“We are at the point now where the issues of financing compensation that was paid in dollars is the last major hurdle to overcome. When that is done, we expect that the power plant would be completed and it is possible to have more dedicated power for this state and especially for its industries and commercial enterprises”, the Minister said.

In his response, the Imo State Deputy Governor, Mr Eze Madumere, described the visit of the Minister as very significant and historic pointing out that since 2011 when the government took office, this was the first time a Minister of Works was visiting the State.

“We have been here since 2011 and we have not seen anything like this”, the Deputy Governor said adding that the fact that the Minister could left every other thing he was doing to come and see things for himself in the state showed that the concern of the President Buhari administration in the development of the state and the country.

Expressing appreciation of the government and people of the state for the new development, the Deputy Governor pledged the readiness of the state government to do everything in its power to assist and support the Federal Government to achieve its developmental objectives in the state.

Dipo Olowookere is a journalist based in Nigeria that has passion for reporting business news stories. At his leisure time, he watches football and supports 3SC of Ibadan. Mr Olowookere can be reached via [email protected]

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Economy

Sources of Business Finance in Nigeria: Types and Options

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sources of business finance

Finance may be the single most essential element when it comes to the progress and sustainability of businesses in Nigeria. The level of funding available to businesses, small and big, determines their ability to function, grow, and compete. The Nigerian business environment, due to the interplay between the local economy, financial institutions, government, and private investors, offers multiple financing opportunities. The dynamics of these financing opportunities helps business owners and managers make the right decisions that best respond to their objectives and the level of risk they are willing to take.

Start your Livescorebet registration and discover more as this article analyzes the different sources of business finance in Nigeria in a systematic and detailed manner. It defines and explains internal and external financing options and the criteria relevant businesses may use in their search for the best financing instrument.

Understanding Sources of Business Finance

Before one can delve into the different options of business financing available, it is important to define business finances and categorize it. The objective of this is to establish a foundation for understanding the extent to which some options may be more appropriate for different businesses than others.

What Are Sources of Finance?

Sources of finance are how a business acquires funds to begin activities, settle daily operations, or pay for additional business activities like acquisitions, expansions, and long-term projects. Businesses may need to finance the purchase of new equipment, hire and pay additional staff, manage business cash flow, develop new products, or finance the expenses required to enter or compete in new markets.

In Nigeria, the Sources of finance are determined by interest rates, availability of bank services, regulations, and the growth stage of capital markets, among other things. A business may use its own cash resources, borrow from a financial institution, receive funds from an investor, or receive a government grant or other government-funded assistance program. Each of these also offers different-related costs, obligations, and levels of control.

Types of Finance: Major Categories

Business finance is typically subdivided into two larger subsets: internal finance, and external finance. Internal finance is from the business and its resources; external finance is from third parties.

The classification of finance by time is also an option. Short-term finance is used for the working capital needs like inventory and operational expenses. Medium-term finance is used for the purchase of an asset like a machine. Long-term finance is used for significant investments like expansion or infrastructure. These classifications often overlap with internal and external sources and help a business structure their financing efficiently.

Key Principles and Examples

Cost is the most influential principle when it comes to the choice and method of utilizing finance. Aspects like interest and dividends affect profitability. Additionally, other opportunity costs must also be focused on. Another principle is risk. Increased borrowing equates to an increase in financial obligations. Control and flexibility are also essential, especially in terms of the original decision makers.

For instance, a small retail shop could potentially rely on the profits previously obtained to purchase stock and restock their shelf. On the other hand, a manufacturing business may need to obtain a bank loan in addition to leasing an arrangement in order to get the needed equipment. These principles must be understood so that finance can be used to support the objectives of the company.

Internal Sources of Business Finance

Internal sources of finance are the finance obtained within a business without the need of external lenders or investors. These sources are often preferred as with them, the business relies a minimal amount on external parties to minimize financial risk.

retained earnings

Retained Earnings

Profits that a company reinvests rather than giving out to owners or stockholders is called retained earnings. Within Nigeria, retained earnings is a common type of financing for SMEs that do not have access to external funding.

This type of financing is cost effective as it does not incur interest or have repayment schedules. Retained earnings financing ensures owners have complete operational control. However, retained earnings depend on profitability, meaning they can be limited or unavailable for new businesses or those that are struggling. Overreliance on retained earnings can also slow expansion if significant capital is needed for growth.

Ordinary (Equity) Shares

For incorporated businesses, it is understood that issuing ordinary shares is considered an internal source if funding is collected from existing owners/shareholders. When an owner nets additional funding, they are strengthening the business’ finances without taking on additional debt.

Equity shares do not have to be paid back, relieving some pressure from cash outflows. This does mean that ownership and profit rights, in the form of dividends, will be repealed. Equity financing in Nigeria is more prevalent in larger businesses and startups with growth potential, especially those that are preparing for future investment rounds or new public listings.

Other Internal Sources

The other internal sources include the streamlining of cash flows, the sale of unused assets, and the reduction of working capital. For instance, a business might dispose of old vehicles or equipment to obtain cash for more productive investments. Likewise, enhanced control of inventories and the speedy collection of receivables can liberate cash for other operational uses.

The techniques described here are often undervalued, especially since they provide short-term relief without incurring external liabilities. Nevertheless, the main limitation of these techniques is scale. They are unlikely to provide the necessary funds to sustain larger projects.

External Sources of Business Finance

External sources imply sourcing funds from outside the business. These sources are particularly necessary for new ventures and rapidly expanding businesses as well as for capital intensive industries.

Bank Lending

Bank lending is, and continues to be, a major source of business finance in Nigeria. Commercial banks, microfinance banks, and development finance institutions all grant businesses loans, overdrafts, and other credit facilities.

Bank loans are easier to obtain and can provide in a short time big amounts of money, making them more attractive for funding major business expansions and for acquisition of new assets. However, such loans are usually associated with a range of challenges such as high-interest rates and demands for strict repayment periods and collateral. Many Nigerian SMEs do not easily gain access to such bank credit due to their limited credit history and insufficient collateral.

loan stock

Loan Stock

Loan stock is a long-term debt financial instrument provided by companies to obtain funding from customers and pays a fixed interest and is repaid after a determined time. In Nigeria debt stock is more prevalent with large established companies.

A loan stock has the benefit of providing long-term financing without losing partial company control. But the financial risk of the company rising during poor economic times increases, as loan interest rates must always be paid.

Venture Capital

Venture capital, funds provided by the investors of a business with the potential of high growth, is in exchange for equity. Venture capital in Nigeria is more common in technology, fintech, and agri-business.

Venture capitalists do not just provide funding; they also provide their experience in the field, their connections, as well as their planning and do-adding-knowledge, making it highly beneficial for new companies. However, these investors more often than not expect the high amounts of profit; therefore, a greater stake of their ownership of the valuable business is lost.

Leasing and Hire Purchase

Hire purchase and leasing, in asset financing, provide the means for firms to use equipment without the need to make the full payment for the equipment up front. Leasing allows the renting of a fixed-term asset, while hire purchase enables the attainment of the full ownership of the asset after making a series of payment installments.

These techniques are common in Nigeria for acquiring college textbooks, vehicles, office technology, etc. These techniques allow one to maintain positive cash flow, while avoiding large capital expenses. The main disadvantage is the total expenditure is higher than buying the item outright.

Government Assistance and Grants

The government of Nigeria, through its various agencies, has a wide range of funding programs aimed at supporting businesses, particularly for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups, which come in the form of grants, subsidised loans, and intervention funds.

When it comes to government assistance, there are lower interest rates for longer periods of time, more flexibility for the beneficiary. However, the availability of such assistance is often restricted, which is often accompanied by complex application procedures and lengthy delays. At the end of the day, although there is a lack of availability, government funding is still a major contributor to the country’s entrepreneurship base development and the economy’s overall growth.

Franchising

From a financing standpoint, franchising is a business model where an entrepreneur receives the right to operate a business under a specified brand for a fee or royalty. While it is not a direct cash resource, the model helps startup a business with lower risk and reduces the financing needed as it comes with brand recognition and an established business system.

In Nigeria, franchising is an approach that is widely adopted, particularly in the food services and hospitality industries. It is especially helpful to startups, as they do not need to build a business model from scratch, and if they need it, the franchising becomes a solid base for acquiring additional funds.

How to Choose the Right Source of Finance

How to choose the right Source of Finance will need balancing what the business needs, how much money is available, and the other goals they want to accomplish over time, since finance refers to how a business entity plans to raise funds from various sources of finance to support business operations and long-term business development.

business finance

Step-by-Step Approach to Choosing a Source of Finance

The first thing to do is say what the finance will go towards. Will it be designed to go towards working capital, purchasing raw materials, buying new assets like a new factory, or is it going to be used for expanding into new markets and securing capital for growth? After that, the company decides how much money it will need and how long it will need it for. This helps clarify whether the required sources of funds fall under short-term sources, often needed within one year, or long-term sources used to finance strategic investments.

The 3rd thing to do is to look at the advantages and disadvantages of each funding option, including risks and costs. Some of these will be interest payments, specific repayment terms, and whether financing involves debt or equity financing, which may dilute ownership or preserve the owner’s control. The business must assess if it will rely on borrowed funds, a secured loan, or equity capital, and whether it can manage repayment with interest, including principal and interest, without risking default or bankruptcy. In the end, the business should look at what it will be able to do and whether it should mix together a few main sources from various sources of finance to meet different business needs.

Factors Affecting the Need for Finance

There is a range of different reasons, that can affect the decisions that are made. Things like how big the business and what point in its lifecycle it’s at, which sector it’s in, and how stable its cash flow is. A new business is likely to need finance in the form of equity and government programs while an older company will likely go for a bank loan or use the money that is already in the company.

The economic climate will also have an influence on the cost and availability of finance in a certain country. Things like inflation and interest rates can make it more difficult to get finance in a certain country. Also the absence of certain regulations and the rules that have to be followed will affect what kind of external finance can be used or what type of external finance will be available.

Comparing Major Sources at a Glance

Internal sources lack scale but are less risky and cheaper. External sources are costly and more risky but can provide larger amounts. Equity financing is less risky in terms of repayments but ownership is diluted, while in debt financing, control is maintained but the risk is higher. Businesses need to understand these trade-offs to incorporate financing into their business strategy.

Conclusion

There are several sources of business finance in Nigeria, and these continue diversifying with the progress of the economy and the financial sector. Each of these sources, from internal such as retained earnings, to external like bank lending, government programs, and venture capital, are tailored to address specific business requirements.

This understanding enables entrepreneurs, managers to make accurate and timely decisions, mitigate risks, and facilitate growth. The optimal level of financing is more than a simple matter of availability as is often the case with entrepreneurs, but ensuring the financial architecture of the business is coherent with its objectives in the long term.

FAQs

What is the difference between internal and external sources of finance?

Internal sources are from the business itself like retained earnings and selling of assets, while external sources are from outside the business like banks, investors and government programs. Internal finance poses less risk, but external finance allows access to much larger funds.

How can startups access venture capital in Nigeria?

Accessing venture capital entails constructing sound business models, designing robust business plans, and then forming relationships with investors through incubators, accelerators, and other platforms. A clear organizational structure and the ability to catalyze substantial interest are invaluable.

What are the advantages of retained earnings as a source of finance?

The cost of retained earnings as a source of finance is low, as money does not need to be repaid. Furthermore, the business owner does not need to share control over the company. Retained earnings are also complementary to the financial position of the business. On the downside, retained earnings can only be used if a business is profitable, and may restrict growth if insufficient profits are generated.

How does leasing differ from hire purchase?

When leasing, a company can use an asset for a specified period of time, but ownership stays with the original owner. In hire purchase agreements, a business can use an asset for a specified time but takes ownership after making the required payment. A leasing agreement is flexible but hire purchase agreements are better for a purchase where an ownership is intended.

What government programs are available for business funding in Nigeria?

The Nigerian government, through its development finance institutions and government agencies, provides a wide range of activities, including lending to small and medium enterprises, offering intervention funds, as well as providing grants. These activities aim to support entrepreneurial activities, stimulate job creation, and develop specific sectors.

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Economy

LCCI Raises Eyebrow Over N15.52trn Debt Servicing Plan in 2026 Budget

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domestic debt servicing

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has noted that the N15.52 trillion allocation to debt servicing in the 2026 budget remains a significant fiscal burden.

LCCI Director-General, Mrs Chinyere Almona, said this on Tuesday in Lagos via a statement in reaction to the nation’s 2026 budget of N58.18 trillion, hinging the success of the 2026 budget on execution discipline, capital efficiency, and sustained support for productive sectors.

She noted that the budget was a timely shift from macroeconomic stabilisation to growth acceleration, reflecting growing confidence in the economy.

She lauded its emphasis on production-oriented spending, with capital expenditure of N26.08 trillion, representing 45 per cent of total outlays, and significantly outweighing non-debt recurrent expenditure of N15.25 trillion.

According to Mrs Almona, this composition supports infrastructure development, industrial expansion, and productivity growth.

However, she explained that the N15.52 trillion allocation to debt servicing underscored the need for stricter borrowing discipline, enhanced revenue efficiency, and expanded public-private partnerships to safeguard investments that promote growth.

She added that a further review of the 2026 budget revealed relatively optimistic macroeconomic assumptions that may pose fiscal risks.

“The oil price benchmark of $64.85 per barrel, although lower than the $75.00 benchmark in the 2025 budget, appears optimistic when compared with the 2025 average price of about $69.60 per barrel and current prices around $60 per barrel.

“This raises downside risks to oil revenue, especially since 35.6 per cent of the total projected revenue is expected to come from oil receipts.

“Similarly, the oil production benchmark of 1.84 million barrels per day is significantly higher than the current level of approximately 1.49 million barrels per day.

“Achieving this may be challenging without substantial improvements in security, infrastructure integrity, and sector investment,” she said.

Mrs Almona said the exchange rate assumption of N1,512 to the Dollar, compared with N1,500 in the 2025 budget and about N1,446 per Dollar at the end of November, suggests expectations of a mild depreciation.

She said while this may support Naira-denominated revenue, it also increases the cost of imports, debt servicing, and inflation management, with broader macroeconomic implications.

The LCCI DG added that the inflation projection of 16.5 per cent in 2026, up from 15.8 per cent in the 2025 budget and a current rate of about 14.45 per cent, appeared optimistic, particularly in a pre-election year.

She also expressed concern about Nigeria’s historically weak budget implementation capacity, likely to be further strained by the combined operation of multiple budget cycles within a single year.

Looking ahead, Mrs Almona identified agriculture and agro-processing, manufacturing, infrastructure, energy, and human capital development as key drivers of growth in 2026.

She said that unlocking these sectors would require decisive execution—scaling irrigation and agro-value chains, reducing power and logistics costs for manufacturers, and aligning education and skills development with private-sector needs.

The LCCI head stressed the need to resolve issues surrounding the Naira for crude, increase the supply of oil to local refineries to boost local refining capacity and conserve the substantial foreign exchange used for fuel imports.

“Overall, the 2026 Budget presents a credible opportunity for Nigeria to transition from recovery to expansion.

“Its success will depend less on the size of allocations and more on execution discipline, capital efficiency, and sustained support for productive sectors.

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Economy

Customs Street Chalks up 0.12% on Santa Claus Rally

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Customs Street Nigerian Stock Exchange

By Dipo Olowookere

The Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited witnessed Santa Claus rally on Wednesday after it closed higher by 0.12 per cent.

Strong demand for Nigerian stocks lifted the All-Share Index (ASI) by 185.70 points during the pre-Christmas trading session to 153,539.83 points from 153,354.13 points.

In the same vein, the market capitalisation expanded at midweek by N118 billion to N97.890 trillion from the preceding day’s N97.772 trillion.

Investor sentiment on Customs Street remained bullish after closing with 36 appreciating equities and 22 depreciating equities, indicating a positive market breadth index.

Guinness Nigeria chalked up 9.98 per cent to trade at N318.60, Austin Laz improved by 9.97 per cent to N3.20, International Breweries expanded by 9.85 per cent to N14.50, Transcorp Hotels rose by 9.83 per cent to N170.90, and Aluminium Extrusion grew by 9.73 per cent to N16.35.

On the flip side, Legend Internet lost 9.26 per cent to close at N4.90, AXA Mansard shrank by 7.14 per cent to N13.00, Jaiz Bank declined by 5.45 per cent to N4.51, MTN Nigeria weakened by 5.21 per cent to N504.00, and NEM Insurance crashed by 4.74 per cent to N24.10.

Yesterday, a total of 1.8 billion shares valued at N30.1 billion exchanged hands in 19,372 deals versus the 677.4 billion shares worth N20.8 billion traded in 27,589 deals in the previous session, implying a slump in the number of deals by 29.78 per cent, and a surge in the trading volume and value by 165.72 per cent and 44.71 per cent apiece.

Abbey Mortgage Bank was the most active equity for the day after it sold 1.1 billion units worth N7.1 billion, Sterling Holdings traded 127.1 million units valued at N895.9 million, Custodian Investment exchanged 115.0 million units for N4.5 billion, First Holdco transacted 40.9 million units valued at N2.2 billion, and Access Holdings traded 38.2 million units worth N783.3 million.

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