Economy
World Bank to Approve $1bn Development Loan to Nigeria December 16
By Adedapo Adesanya
The World Bank has fixed December 16 as a tentative approval date for a fresh $1 billion Development Policy Financing loan to Nigeria.
If approved, the funds will be disbursed in two tranches as policy milestones are achieved, with implementation overseen by the Federal Ministry of Finance in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and relevant line ministries.
The initiative is expected to anchor Nigeria’s transition from short-term stabilisation to long-term, inclusive growth, potentially marking one of the largest World Bank policy support operations for the country in recent years.
The loan is under a new initiative tagged Nigeria Actions for Investment and Jobs Acceleration (P512892), according to a project document published by the bank on October 27.
The new facility comprises a $500 million International Development Association credit and a $500 million International Bank for Reconstruction and Development loan.
The loan, which falls under the bank’s Macroeconomics, Trade and Investment practice area for the Western and Central Africa region, is designed to strengthen ongoing economic reforms, promote job creation, and accelerate private investment.
The credit facility is part of the bank’s broader support package aimed at consolidating the country’s post-reform stability and driving inclusive growth across key sectors of the economy.
“The proposed Development Policy Financing supports Nigeria’s pivot from stabilisation to inclusive growth and job creation. Structured as a two-tranche standalone operation of $1.0 billion ($500m IDA credit and $500m IBRD loan), it seeks to catalyse private sector–led investment by expanding access to credit, deepening capital markets and digital services, easing inflationary pressures, and promoting export diversification,” the document read.
Nigeria under President Bola Tinubu has embarked on many economic reforms, including the removal of the petrol subsidy, unification of exchange rates, and an end to central bank deficit financing.
According to the federal government, the measures, championed under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, have helped stabilise the economy, narrow the fiscal deficit, and restore investor confidence.
The World Bank report noted that while macroeconomic stability has returned, “Nigeria’s economy has yet to shift decisively into a higher and inclusive growth path,” underscoring the urgency of new investment to spur productivity, diversify exports, and create jobs.
The new policy loan is structured around two key pillars: unlocking private sector growth and lowering the cost of doing business, while expanding opportunities across agriculture, trade, and digital services.
Under the first pillar, the facility will expand access to financial credit and digital inclusion, with backing for the investment and Securities Act 2025, new credit enhancement facilities, and a CBN Rulebook aimed at improving microfinance and non-bank financial institutions.
It also supports the National Digital Economy and E-Governance Bill 2025, which will provide a legal framework for electronic transactions, authentication services, and digital records, key steps toward building a modern, paperless government system.
The second pillar seeks to lower costs for firms and households, reduce inflationary pressures, and enhance export competitiveness.
The bank’s report highlights plans to simplify trade barriers, adopt AfCFTA tariff concessions, and improve certified seed systems for key crops like rice, maize, and soybeans.
This is expected to raise productivity, boost food security, and attract new private investment into the agricultural value chain.
According to the document, the $1 billion DPF loan forms part of a broader FY2026 package of World Bank interventions supporting Nigeria’s growth agenda.
Other complementary projects include FINCLUDE (to improve MSME financing), BRIDGE (digital infrastructure), and AGROW (agricultural value chain growth). Together, these are expected to crowd in private capital, expand access to finance, and create an enabling environment for small and medium-scale enterprises.
The programme also aligns with the Paris Climate Agreement, with components targeting climate-resilient agriculture, reduced deforestation, and digital governance systems that lower emissions from paper-based processes.
The Bretton Woods institution estimates that the policy reforms supported under this operation will help reduce food inflation, increase seed productivity, and expand digital exports, while creating millions of direct and indirect jobs. It added that improved access to credit, particularly for MSMEs and smallholder farmers, will translate to “expanded economic opportunities by creating jobs, including for the poor.”
In addition, reduced import bans and lower tariffs on key inputs are expected to make goods cheaper and improve consumer welfare, while also boosting Nigeria’s competitiveness in regional markets.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
Those interested in buying or selling the shares of Aluminium Extrusion Plc on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited will not be able to do so for now.
This is because trading activities on the company’s securities on the Nigerian bourse have been suspended by the NGX Regulation Limited.
The reason for this is that the organisation has failed to submit its financial statements as required by the listing rules for the perusal of the investing community.
After being given grace periods to file the results, the board of the firm has not done the needful, necessitating the wielding of the stick on the entity.
A notice from Customs Street disclosed that the suspension became effective last Wednesday. It will be lifted when the financial results are submitted.
“In accordance with the default filing rules, the suspension of trading in the shares of the company shall be lifted upon the submission of the relevant financial statements,” a part of the notice said.
Business Post reports that Aluminium Extrusion has not filed its financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2025, more than three months after it was required to submit its financial performance for the last fiscal year.
“Trading license holders and the investing public are hereby notified that pursuant to Rule 3.1, Rules for Filing of Accounts and Treatment of Default Filing, (Default Filing Rules), which provides that if an issuer fails to file the relevant accounts by the expiration of the cure period1, 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.
“Trading in the shares of Aluminium Extrusion Plc has been suspended from the facilities of Nigerian Exchange Limited effective Wednesday, July 22, 2026, for not filing its Audited Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2025,” the disclosure stated.
Shares of Aluminium Extrusion last traded on the domestic stock exchange at N9.90 per unit.
By Dipo Olowookere
Last week on the floor of the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited, 57 equities appreciated, higher than 44 equities in the previous week, while 38 equities shed weight versus 35 equities in the preceding week, with 51 equities closing flat versus the 67 equities recorded a week earlier.
UPDC REIT chalked up 33.33 per cent to trade at N14.20, First Holdco gained 25.59 per cent to finish at N120.50, Unilever Nigeria rose by 19.31 per cent to N147.95, Cadbury Nigeria improved by 18.42 per cent to N67.50, and AXA Mansard expanded by 17.86 per cent to N13.20.
On the flip side, Mecure lost 26.97 per cent to N62.40, Royal Exchange shrank by 12.84 per cent to N1.29, Tripple Gee slumped by 12.34 per cent to N3.41, SUNU Assurances crumbled by 10.00 per cent to N3.60, and BUA Foods dropped 10.00 per cent to close at N845.10.
In the week, the All-Share Index (ASI) went up 1.60 per cent to 247,357.40 points, and the market capitalisation appreciated by 1.61 per cent to N159.588 trillion.
Similarly, all other indices finished higher with the exception of the consumer goods, Lotus II, growth, sovereign bond and commodity indices, which fell by 3.76 per cent, 1.55 per cent, 20.24 per cent, 0.14 per cent, and 1.25 per cent respectively.
As for the trading data, 4.433 billion shares worth N306.143 billion in 255,589 deals were transacted in five days versus the 2.819 billion shares valued at N182.499 billion traded in 226,729 deals in the previous week.
The financial services segment led the activity chart with 3.422 billion shares valued at N207.206 billion traded in 117,545 deals, contributing 77.18 per cent and 67.68 per cent to the total trading volume and value, respectively.
The consumer goods sector traded 201.978 million shares worth N17.171 billion in 28,666 deals, and the ICT industry posted a turnover of 169.481 million shares worth N21.194 billion in 23,107 deals.
First Holdco, Access Holdings, and GTCO accounted for 2.151 billion shares worth N170.793 billion in 44,768 deals, contributing 48.51 per cent and 55.79 per cent to the total trading volume and value, respectively.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Nigeria’s crude oil exports to the United States rebounded strongly in May as shipments rose by nearly 150 per cent month-on-month as American refiners increased purchases of overseas crude.
Latest data from the US Census Bureau showed that crude imports from Nigeria climbed to 2.36 million barrels in May, compared with 946,000 barrels recorded in April.
This indicated renewed demand for Nigeria’s premium light sweet grades amid shifting global patterns and higher international oil prices as the Middle East disruption weighed on trade.
The value of the imports also rose sharply to $279.8 million, up from $85.2 million in the previous month, reflecting both the higher volume of purchases and stronger crude oil prices during the period.
The rebound coincided with a broader increase in crude oil imports by the US.
According to the latest US International Trade in Goods and Services Report, total US crude imports increased by $1.5 billion in May, making crude oil one of the largest contributors to the $12.3 billion rise in overall goods imports during the month.
The report also showed that imports of industrial supplies and materials increased by $3.1 billion, with crude oil accounting for nearly half of the increase.
The recovery marks a significant turnaround after two consecutive months of declining Nigerian crude shipments to the US market. Export volumes had fallen from 4.64 million barrels in February to 1.54 million barrels in March, before dropping further to 946,000 barrels in April.
Despite the fluctuations, cumulative exports between January and May 2026 reached 11.15 million barrels, valued at approximately $926.6 million, reaffirming Nigeria’s strategic position as a key supplier of premium low-sulphur crude grades to the world’s largest economy.
Concerns surrounding crude shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s busiest oil transit routes, are encouraging refiners to increase purchases from Atlantic Basin producers such as Nigeria, whose crude grades offer lower geopolitical shipping risks than some Middle Eastern supplies.
Nigeria’s flagship crude grades, including Bonny Light, Qua Iboe and Escravos, remain highly sought after by US Gulf Coast refiners because of their low sulphur content and high yields of premium petroleum products such as petrol, diesel and aviation fuel.
Although the US has emerged as one of the world’s largest crude oil producers following the shale revolution, many American refineries continue to import light sweet crude to complement domestic production and optimise refining operations.
The rebound in exports also comes as Nigeria gradually restores crude production following improved security operations in the Niger Delta and intensified efforts by government agencies and operators to curb crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism and illegal refining.
