Economy
WTO Tackles Nigeria over Market Restrictions
By Dipo Olowookere
The World Trade Organisation (WTO) has asked Nigeria to remove trade prohibitions and market restrictions in line with global free market policy that facilitates free trade across borders.
This formed the crux of media interaction held yesterday in Abuja with a delegation from the WTO which is in Nigeria for the country’s 5th Trade Policy Review.
The Counsellor, Head – African and Management on Trade Policies Review Division of the WTO, Jacques Degbelo, said the goal of WTO is to ensure that all countries promote exports but in doing so, no country should restrict imports.
“Trade means you have access to my market and I have access to your market,” Degbelo said on the need to obliterate all trade restrictions, including import restriction list for accessing foreign exchange and import bans on land borders.
The WTF’S Trade Policy Analyst of the Trade Policies Review Division, Xinyi Li, said the on-going review of Nigeria’s Trade Policy would enable dialogue among Ministries, Departments and Agencies in the country in coordinating trade related issues.
Li said the review will bring Nigeria into coherence with trade policies of other countries in the world to open up more markets to it for exports.
The Trade Advisor to the Trade Minister and the Nigeria’s Chief Trade Negotiator, Ambassador Chiedu Osakwe, disclosed that the review would help question some existing trade policies in Nigeria as they affect export and import promotion.
Osakwe said there would be need to interrogate the existence of a 0.5 per cent levy on export in line with Nigeria’s aspiration to grow export and earn foreign exchange.
The Trade Advisor wondered why a country that is trying to promote export would impose a levy on export no matter how negligible the percentage of the levy is.
He also called into question the import per shipment levy of $600 per container which the country does not even benefit from and wondered if it is necessary.
He said the review would also try to consider the 1 per cent charge which goes into import supervision and the necessity which the charge serves in the economy.
Daily Trust
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The pre-registration training and examination for capital market operators (CMOs) for the second quarter of 2026 has been postponed.
Business Post gathered that the new date for the exercise is now Monday, June 15, 2026.
This information was disclosed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) through a circular on Monday, June 8, 2026.
The Nigerian capital market regulator stated that this postponement has also resulted in the extension of the deadline for registration to Friday, June 12, 2026.
In the notice today, the SEC expressed its regret for the inconvenience this action may cause operators, who had prepared for the initial date of the training and examination.
“Further to the recent circular on Q2 2026 Pre-registration Training and Examination, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) hereby informs all eligible applicants for the Q2 2026 Pre-registration Training and Examination that the commencement date has been postponed to Monday, June 15, 2026.
“Registration on the designated portal has also been extended to Friday, June 12, 2026. All other conditions contained in the circular remain unchanged.
“The commission regrets any inconvenience this postponement may cause and appreciates the understanding of all applicants,” the disclosure noted.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
One of the leading healthcare firms in Nigeria, Fidson Healthcare Plc, has listed additional shares on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited.
The new stocks absorbed into the stock market were 600 million units, raising the total issued and fully paid-up shares of Fidson to 3,000,000,000 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each from 2,400,000,000 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each.
The fresh equities came from the company’s rights issue of 600,000,000 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each at N35.00 per share.
They were issued to existing investors on the basis of one new ordinary share for every existing four ordinary shares held as of the close of business on Wednesday, November 12, 2025.
Confirming the development, the regulator in a notice said, “Trading licence holders are hereby notified that an additional 600,000,000 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each of Fidson Healthcare Plc were on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, listed on the daily official list of Nigerian Exchange Limited.
“The additional shares arose from the company’s rights issue of 600,000,000 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each at N35.00 per share on the basis of one new ordinary share for every existing four ordinary shares held as at the close of business on Wednesday, November 12, 2025.
“With the listing of the additional 600,000,000 ordinary shares, the total issued and fully paid-up shares of Fidson Healthcare Plc have now increased from 2,400,000,000 to 3,000,000,000 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each.”
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
This news will surely excite local contractors with verified claims of N100 million or less, as the federal government has approved their payments.
This approval for the disbursement was given by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Taiwo Oyedele.
This followed a verification and reconciliation exercise designed to ensure only validated claims qualify for payment.
The beneficiaries cover contractors across multiple ministries, departments and agencies. The release of the funds is expected to enable contractors to return to project sites, pay workers, settle suppliers and meet outstanding financial commitments.
In an announcement on Monday, the Federal Ministry of Finance also said this latest batch of payments would ease liquidity pressure on small businesses and accelerate economic activity nationwide.
It was noted that the payments for verified claims of N100 million below were strategically done to spread economic impact broadly rather than concentrate disbursements among a handful of large firms.
The payments form part of a broader push to clear inherited contractor obligations, with over N700 billion verified in recent months.
“For many beneficiaries, the release of funds represents more than a financial transaction. It provides the certainty needed to sustain operations, preserve jobs, complete ongoing projects, and contribute to economic recovery and growth,” the ministry said in a statement.
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