Economy
Naira Gains Across FX Windows as CBN Holds Benchmark Interest Rate Steady
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Naira extended its gain against the US Dollar in the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEM) on Tuesday, November 25 by N7.49 or 0.52 per cent to close at N1,446.32/$1 compared with the preceding session’s N1,453.81/$1.
Also, the domestic currency appreciated against the Pound Sterling in the same market window during the session by N5.40 to settle at N1,902.19/£1 compared with the N1,907.59/£1 it was traded on Monday and improved against the Euro by N7.10 to finish at N1,671.07/€1, in contrast to the previous session’s closing price of N1,678.29/€1.
In the black market, the Nigerian currency appreciated against the Dollar yesterday by N5 to sell for N1,460/$1 compared with the previous day’s value of N1,465/$1 and at the GTBank forex counter, the local currency gained N5 to sell at N1,455/$1 versus Monday’s closing price of N1,460/$1.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Tuesday retained its Monetary Policy Rate at 27 per cent after the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) consolidated the progress already made in moderating inflation and stabilising the financial system. The MPC also resolved to maintain the cash reserve requirement for deposit money banks at 45 per cent, keep merchant banks’ CRR at 16 per cent, apply a 75 per cent CRR on non-TSA public sector deposits, and retain the liquidity ratio at 30 per cent.
According to the apex bank governor, Mr Yemi Cardoso, the decisions were guided by the need “to sustain the progress made so far towards achieving low and stable inflation,”
He noted that the easing of inflationary pressure was supported by sustained monetary tightening, a stable exchange rate, increased capital inflows, and a surplus in the current account balance. He added that relative stability in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and improved food supply also contributed to the pace of disinflation.
The governor said the country was in a favourable position with its $46.7 billion external reserves, which was boosted by rising non-oil exports, improved oil production, higher remittances, and increasing portfolio investment.
As for the cryptocurrency market, as traders remain optimistic about potential US Federal Reserve rate cuts, there were some who decided to weigh the risk and this created a mix outcome among benchmarked coins.
Ripple (XRP) fell by 2.4 per cent to $2.18, Bitcoin (BTC) slid by 0.5 per cent to $87,526.87, Cardano (ADA) depreciated by 0.3 per cent to $0.4204, and Binance Coin (BNB) slipped by 0.2 per cent to $859.24.
On the flip side, Solana (SOL) went up by 0.6 per cent to $138.55, Ethereum (ETH) rose by 0.5 per cent to $2,923.35, Litecoin (LTC) expanded by 0.4 per cent to 84.81, and Dogecoin (DOGE) grew by 0.3 per cent to $0.1513, while the US Dollar Tether (USDT) and the US Dollar Coin (USDC) closed flat at $1.00 each.
Economy
Presco, GTCO List Additional Shares on Stock Exchange
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The duo of Presco Plc and Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) Plc has listed additional shares on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited.
The extra equities of these two publicly-listed organisations were admitted to the local stock exchange last Friday, increasing their respective total issued and fully paid-up shares.
For Presco, it listed fresh 166,666,667 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each on the daily official list of the NGX on Friday, January 30, 2026, increasing its total issued and fully paid-up stocks from 1,000,000,000 units to 1,166,666,667 units.
The additional equities were from the rights issue of the firm allotted to shareholders on the basis of one new share for every existing six ordinary shares held as at close of business on Monday, October 13, 2025.
In a circular issued over the weekend, the NGX said, “Trading licence holders are hereby notified that additional 166,666,667 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each of Presco Plc were on Friday, January 30, 2026, listed on the daily official list of Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited (NGX).
“The additional shares arose from the company’s rights issue of 166,666,667 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each at N1,420.00 per share on the basis of one new share for every existing six ordinary shares held as at close of business on Monday, October 13, 2025.
“With the listing of the additional 166,666,667 ordinary shares, the total issued and fully paid-up shares of Presco Plc has now increased from 1,000,000,000 to 1,166,666,667 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each.”
As for GTCO, it listed additional125,000,000 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each at N80.00 per unit offered through private placement.
The fresh equities taken to Customs Street have raised the total issued and fully paid-up shares of GTCO from 36,425,229,514 to 36,550,229,514 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each.
Economy
FG, States, Local Councils Share N1.969trn FAAC Allocation
By Adedapo Adesanya
A total of N1.969 trillion was shared to the federal government, the 36 state governments and the 774 local government councils from the gross revenue of N2.585 trillion generated by the nation in December 2025.
The money was disbursed to the three tiers of government at the January 2026 Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting held in Abuja.
In a statement issued on Monday by the Director of Press and Public Relations in the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF), Mr Bawa Mokwa, it was stated that the FAAC allocation comprised statutory revenue of N1.084 trillion, distributable Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue of N846.507 billion, and Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL) revenue of N38.110 billion.
“Total deduction for cost of collection was N104.697 billion, while total transfers, refunds, and savings were N511.585 billion,” the statement partly read.
It was also revealed that from the N1.969 trillion total distributable revenue, the federal Government received the sum of N653.500 billion, and the state governments received N706.469 billion, the local government councils received N513.272 billion, and the sum of N96.083 billion was shared with the benefiting state as 13 per cent derivation revenue.
He said of the N1.084 trillion distributable statutory revenue, the central government received N520.807 billion, the state governments got N264.160 billion, the local councils were given N203.656 billion, and N96.083 billion was shared to the benefiting states as 13 per cent derivation revenue.
FAAC noted that from the N846.507 billion distributable VAT earnings, the federal government got N126.976 billion, the state governments received N423.254 billion, and the local government councils got N296.277 billion.
From the revenue from EMTL, Mr Mokwa explained that the national government was given N5.717 billion, the state governments got N19.055 billion, and the councils collected N13.338 billion.
He added that the companies’ Income Tax (CIT)/CGT and STD, Import Duty and Value Added Tax (VAT) increased significantly in December, while oil and gas royalty, CET levies and fees increase marginally, with excise duty, Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT)/Hydrocarbon Tax (HT), and EMTL considerably down.
Economy
Oil Exports to Drop as Shell Commences Maintenance on Bonga FPSO
By Adedapo Adesanya
Nigeria’s oil exports will drop in February following the shutdown of the Bonga Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel scheduled for turnaround maintenance.
Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo) Limited confirmed the development in a statement issued, adding that gas output will also decline during the maintenance period.
This comes as SNEPCo begun turnaround maintenance on the Bonga FPSO, the statement signed by its Communications Manager, Mrs Gladys Afam-Anadu, said, describing the exercise as a statutory integrity assurance programme designed to extend the facility’s operational lifespan.
SNEPCo Managing Director, Mr Ronald Adams, said the maintenance would ensure safe, efficient operations for another 15 years.
“The scheduled maintenance is designed to reduce unplanned deferments and strengthen the asset’s overall resilience.
“We expect to resume operations in March following completion of the turnaround,” he said.
Mr Adams said the scope included inspections, certification, regulatory checks, integrity upgrades, engineering modifications and subsea assurance activities.
“The FPSO, about 120 kilometres offshore in over 1,000 metres of water, can produce 225,000 barrels of oil daily.
“It also produces 150 million standard cubic feet of gas per day,” he said.
He said maintaining the facility was critical to Nigeria’s production stability, energy security and revenue objectives.
Mr Adams noted that the 2024 Final Investment Decision on Bonga North increased the importance of the FPSO’s reliability. He said the turnaround would prepare the facility for additional volumes from the Bonga North subsea tie-back project.
According to him, the last turnaround maintenance was conducted in October 2022.
“On February 1, 2023, the asset produced its one billionth barrel since operations began in 2005,” Mr Adams said.
SNEPCo operates the Bonga field in partnership with Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria (Deepwater) Limited and Nigerian Agip Exploration Limited, under a Production Sharing Contract with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited.
The last turnaround maintenance activity on the FPSO took place in October 2022. On February 1, the following year, the asset delivered its 1 billionth barrel of oil since production commenced in 2005.
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