Economy
Mining Sector to Contribute $27b to GDP by 2025—FG
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
It is no doubt that a lot has not been tapped from the mining industry in Nigeria, but the present government is focusing its attention to this just as it is doing with the agricultural sector.
At the moment, it is estimated that the contribution of the sector to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Nigeria is $13 billion.
But the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development says it hopes to push this to about $27 billion by 2025.
This was revealed in the Ministry’s Road Map released on Sunday in Abuja, which was posted on its website and analysed by Business Post.
According to the Ministry’s roadmap, the impact on GDP will be significant as industries are able to use the output of the sector better, substituting for imports.
It also noted that the successful execution of the mining plan with unlock significant value for Nigeria and the net outcome will be creation of thousands of direct jobs and potentially hundreds of thousands of indirect jobs.
The Ministry said it would execute this roadmap in stages with the first focused on bringing stability to the sector and rebuilding the country’s market confidence between 2016 and 2018.
The second phase will focus on establishing Nigeria as a competitive African mining and mineral processing centre from 2016 to 2020, while the third phase will enable Nigeria compete in the global market for refined metals and minerals from 2018 to 2030 in addition to selected ore exportation.
“To ensure effective execution of the roadmap, a committee has recommended the formation of a Mining Implementation and Strategy Team (MIST) that will be the process owner of the roadmap and will be accountable for its implementation.
“MIST, as an advisory team to the Minister, will work across multiple MDAs, stakeholders and private institutions to ensure that the full potential of the minerals, mining and metals sector is achieved,” the Ministry said.
Recall that in 2015, the sector contributed approximately 0.33 percent to the GDP of the country. This contribution is a reversal from the historically higher percentages (about 4-5% in the 1960s-70s).
However, following a decade of reforms starting in 1999, this contribution represents a cautiously optimistic restart of the development of the sector.
The decade of reform saw key changes including, the passage of a new Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act (2007), a Nigerian Mineral and Metals Policy (2008), the creation of a modern Mining Cadastre system, the refinement of the tax code, and the expansion in airborne mapping of the country to sharpen knowledge of the mineral endowments. As important as these progress steps have been, Nigeria can and should do more.
The sector faces several challenges with geosciences data and information, Industry participants, Stakeholders, Institutions, Governance and other enablers of the sector.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), gour sub-activities make up the Mining & Quarrying sector: Crude Petroleum and Natural Gas, Coal Mining, Metal ore and Quarrying and other Minerals.
On a nominal basis, the sector grew in the Fourth Quarter of 2016 by 54.68% (year on year). This was substantially above the growth rate recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2015, when a contraction of -35.12% was recorded.
This increase may be attributable in part to negotiations with militant groups in the Niger Delta region, who had been vandalizing oil infrastructure, but who reduced their attacks in the fourth quarter following these series of negotiations.
Coal mining and Metal ore activities in nominal terms, recorded growth rates of 14.16% and 24.24% respectively, significantly higher than the third quarter growth rates of 1.06% and 17.11% respectively.
The Mining & Quarrying sector contributed 7.10% to overall GDP during the fourth quarter of 2016, higher than the contribution recorded in same quarter of 2015 at 5.18%, and its contribution in the preceding quarter of 6.23%.
In real terms, Mining and Quarrying sector recorded a decline of -12.04% (year-on-year) in the fourth quarter of 2016. Although this is significantly smaller decline than that recorded in the previous quarter, of 21.64%, it is nevertheless 3.99% points lower than the growth rate recorded in the same Quarter of 2015 of –8.05.
The contribution of Mining and Quarrying to Real GDP in the fourth quarter of 2016 stood at 7.32%, representing a decline of 0.89% points relative to the corresponding quarter of 2015 and also a decline of 1.02% points relative to the third quarter of 2016.
Economy
Afriland Properties, Geo-Fluids Shrink OTC Securities Exchange by 0.06%
By Adedapo Adesanya
The duo of Afriland Properties Plc and Geo-Fluids Plc crashed the NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange by a marginal 0.06 per cent on Wednesday, December 11 due to profit-taking activities.
The OTC securities exchange experienced a downfall at midweek despite UBN Property Plc posting a price appreciation of 17 Kobo to close at N1.96 per share, in contrast to Tuesday’s closing price of N1.79.
Business Post reports that Afriland Properties Plc slid by N1.14 to finish at N15.80 per unit versus the preceding day’s N16.94 per unit, and Geo-Fluids Plc declined by 1 Kobo to trade at N3.92 per share compared with the N3.93 it ended a day earlier.
At the close of transactions, the market capitalisation of the bourse, which measures the total value of securities on the platform, shrank by N650 million to finish at N1.055 trillion compared with the previous day’s N1.056 trillion and the NASD Unlisted Security Index (NSI) went down by 1.86 points to wrap the session at 3,012.50 points compared with 3,014.36 points recorded in the previous session.
The alternative stock market was busy yesterday as the volume of securities traded by investors soared by 146.9 per cent to 5.9 million units from 2.4 million units, as the value of shares transacted by the market participants jumped by 360.9 per cent to N22.5 million from N4.9 million, and the number of deals increased by 50 per cent to 21 deals from 14 deals.
When the bourse closed for the day, Geo-Fluids Plc remained the most active stock by volume (year-to-date) with 1.7 billion units valued at N3.9 billion, followed by Okitipupa Plc with 752.2 million units worth N7.8 billion, and Afriland Properties Plc 297.5 million units sold for N5.3 million.
Also, Aradel Holdings Plc, which is now listed on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited after its exit from NASD, remained the most active stock by value (year-to-date) with 108.7 million units sold for N89.2 billion, trailed by Okitipupa Plc with 752.2 million units valued at N7.8 billion, and Afriland Properties Plc with 297.5 million units worth N5.3 billion.
Economy
Naira Weakens to N1,547/$1 at Official Market, N1,670/$1 at Black Market
By Adedapo Adesanya
The euphoria around the recent appreciation of the Naira eased on Wednesday, December 11 after its value shrank against the US Dollar at the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEM) by N5.23 or 0.3 per cent to N1,547.50/$1 from the N1,542.27/$1 it was valued on Tuesday.
It was observed that spectators’ activities may have triggered the weakening of the local currency in the official market at midweek as they tried to fight back and ensure the value of funds in foreign currencies strengthened.
The domestic currency was regaining its footing after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) launched an Electronic Foreign Exchange Matching System (EFEMS) platform to tackle speculation and improve transparency in Nigeria’s FX market.
At midweek, the Nigerian currency depreciated against the Pound Sterling by N3.56 to close at N1,958.68/£1 compared with the preceding day’s N1,955.12/£1 and against the Euro, it slumped by 34 Kobo to trade at N1,612.66/€1, in contrast to the previous session’s N1,613.00/€1.
As for the black market segment, the Naira lost N45 against the American currency during the session to quote at N1,670/$1 compared with the N1,625/$1 it was traded a day earlier.
A look at the cryptocurrency market showed a recovery following profit-taking as the US Consumer Price Index report matched economist forecasts.
The news was enough to convince traders that the Federal Reserve is certain to trim its benchmark fed funds rate another 25 basis points at its meeting next week.
The move also saw Bitcoin (BTC), the most valued coin, return to the $100,000 mark as it added a 2.9 per cent gain and sold for $100,566.12.
The biggest gainer was Cardano (ADA), which jumped by 15.00 per cent to trade at $1.16, as Litecoin (LTC) appreciated by 10.4 per cent to sell for $121.76, and Ethereum (ETH) surged by 7.0 per cent to $3,929.30, while Dogecoin (DOGE) recorded a 6.7 per cent growth to finish at $0.4181.
Further, Binance Coin (BNB) went up by 5.2 per cent to $716.72, Solana (SOL) expanded by 4.6 per cent to $229.77, and Ripple (XRP) increased by 4.2 per cent to $2.43, while the US Dollar Tether (USDT) and the US Dollar Coin (USDC) closed flat at $1.00 apiece.
Economy
Dangote Refinery Makes First PMS Exports to Cameroon
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The Dangote Refinery located in the Lekki area of Lagos State has made its first export of premium motor spirit (PMS) just three months after it commenced the production of petrol.
In September 2024, the refinery produced its first petrol and began loading to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) on September 15.
However, due to some issues, the facility has not been able to flood the local market with its product, forcing it to look elsewhere.
In a landmark move for regional energy integration, Dangote Refinery has partnered with Neptune Oil to take its petrol to neighbouring Cameroon.
Neptune Oil is a leading energy company in Cameroon which provides reliable and sustainable energy solutions.
Dangote Refinery said this development showcases its ability to meet domestic needs and position itself as a key player in the regional energy market, adding that it represents a significant step forward in accessing high-quality and locally sourced petroleum products for Cameroon.
“This first export of PMS to Cameroon is a tangible demonstration of our vision for a united and energy-independent Africa.
“With this development, we are laying the foundation for a future where African resources are refined and exchanged within the continent for the benefit of our people,” the owner of Dangote Refinery, Mr Aliko Dangote, said.
His counterpart at Neptune Oil, Mr Antoine Ndzengue, said, “This partnership with Dangote Refinery marks a turning point for Cameroon.
“By becoming the first importer of petroleum products from this world-class refinery, we are bolstering our country’s energy security and supporting local economic development.
“This initial supply, executed without international intermediaries, reflects our commitment to serving our markets independently and efficiently.”
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