By Adedapo Adesanya

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced plans to hold its 304th Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting on Monday, February 23 and Tuesday, February 24, 2026.

This information was disclosed in a circular published on the apex bank’s official website on Monday. This will be the first meeting of 2026.

The gathering comes amid sustained efforts by the CBN to rein in inflation, stabilise the foreign exchange market, and strengthen macroeconomic conditions.

At its last MPC meeting in November 2025, the central bank retained the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) at 27 per cent, maintaining its restrictive posture in a bid to curb inflationary pressures and stabilise the foreign exchange (FX) market.

The MPC is one of the bank’s highest policy-making bodies, responsible for formulating monetary and credit policies aimed at ensuring price stability.

Through key instruments such as the MPR, Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR), and Liquidity Ratio (LR), the committee guides interest rate conditions and overall monetary direction in the economy.

Comprising the CBN Governor, Deputy Governors, Board members, and appointed external members, the committee meets periodically to review critical economic indicators, including inflation, gross domestic product, and exchange rate developments, before taking policy decisions.

The apex bank outlined the timetable and venue in its official notice.

“The 304th meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is scheduled to hold as follows,” the CBN said.

“Day 1: Monday, February 23, 2026 – Time: 10.00 a.m.”

“Day 2: Tuesday, February 24, 2026 – Time: 8.00 a.m.”

According to the circular, the meeting will take place at the MPC Meeting Room on the 11th floor of the CBN Head Office in Abuja.

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

The suspension placed on trading in the shares of Fortis Global Insurance Plc has been lifted by the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited after six years.

The embargo arose from the company’s violation of Rule 3.1: Rules for Filing of Accounts and Treatment of Default Filing (Default Filing Rules).

The underwriting firm, formerly known as Standard Alliance Insurance Plc, was suspended by the exchange on July 2, 2019, after the board failed to file the necessary financial statements.

Rule 3.1 provides that if an issuer fails to file the relevant accounts by the expiration of the cure period, the exchange will: a) send to the issuer a second filing deficiency notification within two business days after the end of the cure period, b) suspend trading in the issuer’s securities, and c) notify the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the market within 24 hours of the suspension.

A notice from the bourse last week disclosed that the company has now filed all outstanding financial statements due to the NGX, and in view of this, the embargo has been lifted pursuant to Rule 3.3 of the Default Filing Rules.

This section states that, “The suspension of trading in the issuer’s securities shall be lifted upon submission of the relevant accounts, provided the exchange is satisfied that the accounts comply with all applicable rules of the exchange.

“The exchange shall thereafter also announce through the medium by which the public and the SEC were initially notified of the suspension, that the suspension has been lifted.”

The bourse informed trading license holders and the investing public “that the suspension placed on trading on the shares of Fortis Global Insurance was lifted on Wednesday, February 4, 2026.”

By Dipo Olowookere

Last week, on the floor of the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited, investors transacted 3.860 billion stocks worth N128.581 billion in 240,463 deals versus the 3.087 billion stocks valued at N81.505 billion traded in 222,185 deals in the preceding week.

In the five-day trading week, financial equities led the activity chart with 2.188 billion units valued at N50.459 billion in 94,005 deals, contributing 56.68 per cent and 39.24 per cent to the total trading volume and value, respectively.

Services stocks followed with 466.771 million units worth N4.495 billion in 18,526 deals, and ICT shares sold 377.800 million units for N9.049 billion in 25,653 deals.

Chams, Access Holdings, and Universal Insurance were the most active in the week with 664.942 million units valued at N6.801 billion in 15,161 deals, contributing 17.23 per cent and 5.29 per cent to the total trading volume and value apiece.

Business Post reports that 71 equities appreciated during the week versus 44 equities in the previous week, as 35 stocks depreciated compared with 49 stocks a week earlier, while 42 shares closed flat versus 55 shares in the preceding week.

RT Briscoe was the biggest price gainer with a price appreciation of 60.69 per cent to close at N12.63, Zichis gained 60.38 per cent to trade at N6.72, Abbey Mortgage Bank chalked up 59.04 per cent to settle at N14.95, Union Dicon expanded by 49.14 per cent to N13.05, and Austin Laz grew by 38.46 per cent to N5.40.

Conversely, Deap Capital was the biggest price loser after giving up 27.37 per cent to quote at N6.82, Union Homes REIT lost 26.99 per cent to finish at N69.25, Red Star Express declined by 17.55 per cent to N17.15, UPDC REIT shrank by 12.29 per cent to N7.85, and Cornerstone Insurance tumbled by 12.24 per cent to N5.45.

From the above data, the week was under buying pressure, which raised the All-Share Index (ASI) and the market capitalisation by 3.84 per cent to 171,727.49 points and N110.235 trillion, respectively.

Similarly, all other indices finished higher with the exception of the insurance index, which depreciated by 2.33 per cent due to sell-offs.