Economy
FG Pegs Exchange Rate at N410.15/$1 for 2022 Budget
By Adedapo Adesanya
The federal government has pegged the exchange rate at N410.15/$1 and the crude oil benchmark at $57 per barrel for the 2022 budget it is planning to submit to the National Assembly for approval.
The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, confirmed this on Monday at an interactive session organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Finance on the 2022-2024 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTEF/FSP) in Abuja.
Mrs Ahmed noted that the perception of the naira as being overvalued despite recent adjustment by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has compounded Nigeria’s risk aversion in the global capital market, which she said would further put pressure on the foreign exchange market, stressing that foreign portfolio investors have yet to return to the Nigerian market.
The Minister stated that while the government plans to borrow to fund the N5.62 trillion deficits in 2022, it will reduce capital expenditure by N259.3 billion, as the reduction would become necessary due to economic volatility occasioned by the unstable global oil market as well as the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
She added that for capital expenditure next year, ministries, departments and agencies would get N1.76 trillion as opposed to the N2.02 trillion spent in 2021.
Other key macro-economic assumptions in the MTEF/FSP include a crude oil benchmark crude oil production of 1.88 million barrels per day, an inflation rate of 13 per cent, and a nominal gross domestic product (GDP) of 149.4 trillion.
The Minister noted that interestingly, non-oil GDP continues to grow at 169.7 trillion, compared to oil GDP of 14.7 trillion included in the nominal GDP while nominal consumption is 1.3 trillion.
She said, “The budget deficit and the financing items for the expenditure projected for 2022 is N5.62 trillion, up from N5.60 trillion in 2021.
“The deficit is going to be financed by new foreign and domestic borrowings, both domestic and foreign, in the sum of N4.89 trillion, then privatisation proceeds of N90.73 billion and drawdowns from project titles of N635 billion.
“This amount represents 3.05 per cent of the estimated GDP, which is slightly above the 3 per cent threshold that is spent recommended in the Fiscal Responsibility Act. The revenue that we expect is N6.54 trillion, N2.62 trillion to accrue to the Federation Account and Value Added Tax (VAT), respectively.”
Mrs Ahmed further said the net oil and gas revenue, which would be available for the federation account for distribution, would be N6.151 trillion in 2022.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The positive run of the Naira against the US Dollar in the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEX) continued on Wednesday, June 3, with the former chalking up N3.79 or 0.28 per cent against the latter, closing at N1,357.26, in contrast to the preceding session’s N1,361.05/$1.
Similarly, the Nigerian currency gained N10.52 against the Pound Sterling in the official market during the session to close at N1,822.67/£1 compared with the previous rate of N1,833.19/£1, and appreciated against the Euro by N9.56 to N1,574.83/€1 from N1,584.39/€1.
Further, at the black market, the Naira improved its value against the greenback at midweek by N5 to trade at N1,375/$1 compared with the N1,380/$1 it was traded a day earlier, and at the GTBank FX counter, it gained N6 to sell for N1,372/$1 versus N1,378/$1.
The boost came as the country’s external reserves continued to gain momentum. A look at the updated data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) showed that foreign reserves continue to increase with two consecutive inflows in June 2026, settling at $49.876 billion as of Tuesday.
Foreign portfolio investors, exporters and non-bank corporates continue to keep the supply side strong, with the less aggressive FX interventions by the CBN at the official window in recent times helping to ease worries about capital flight.
The apex bank reported that interbank FX turnover declined to $133.731 million across 136 deals, from $169.822 million the previous day.
Meanwhile, the cryptocurrency market remained bearish due to sell-offs triggered by geopolitical uncertainties and the US stock market rally.
Cardano (ADA) dipped by 5.5 per cent to $0.2046, Binance Coin (BNB) slumped by 4.8 per cent to $627.56, Solana (SOL) shrank by 3.9 per cent to $72.99, Ethereum (ETH) depreciated by 2.9 per cent to $1,844.53, and Bitcoin (BTC) slipped by 2.7 per cent to $65,675.87.
Further, Dogecoin (DOGE) depleted by 1.4 per cent to $0.0928, Ripple (XRP) declined by 0.7 per cent to $1.21, and TRON (TRX) lost 0.4 per cent to sell at $0.3336, while the US Dollar Tether (USDT) and the US Dollar Coin (USDC) gained 0.01 each to settle at $0.9986 and $0.9997, respectively.
By Dipo Olowookere
Nigeria’s stock market further depleted by 1.44 per cent on Wednesday following panic sell-offs by investors, who are cutting down their exposure to local equities.
Business Post observed that profit-taking dominated Customs Street at midweek, with all the key sectors of the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited closing in red.
The insurance space shed 2.76 per cent, the industrial goods index lost 1.55 per cent, the banking counter declined by 1.53 per cent, the consumer goods segment shrank by 0.28 per cent, and the energy sector weakened by 0.05 per cent.
As a result, the All-Share Index (ASI) contracted by 3,554.05 points to 243,132.61 points from 246,686.66 points, and the market capitalisation moderated by N2.279 trillion to N155.940 trillion from N158.219 trillion.
Lafarge Africa led the losers’ chart yesterday after it gave up 9.97 per cent to trade at N307.90, Zichis lost 9.82 per cent to close at N29.20, Learn Africa depreciated by 9.80 per cent to N11.50, John Holt crashed by 9.80 per cent to N13.80, and Consolidated Hallmark dipped by 8.84 per cent to N6.19.
On the flip side, Abbey Mortgage Bank topped the gainers’ log after it grew by 9.93 per cent to N7.75, International Energy Insurance appreciated by 9.89 per cent to N6.00, Tripple G gained 9.80 per cent to sell for N4.37, Universal Insurance expanded by 8.91 per cent to N1.10, and Royal Exchange improved by 7.14 per cent to N1.50.
A total of 17 stocks gained weight yesterday, while 43 stocks lost weight, indicating a negative market breadth index and weak investor sentiment. This has been the mood of the market since the beginning of this week.
Market participants transacted 923.0 million shares worth N42.3 billion in 69,332 deals on Wednesday, in contrast to the 718.8 million shares valued at N29.3 billion traded in 71,683 deals on Tuesday, representing a drop in the number of deals by 3.28 per cent, and a rise in the trading volume and value by 28.41 per cent and 44.37 per cent, respectively.
Sterling Holdings led the activity chart with 264.6 million units valued at N2.1 billion, Access Holdings traded 76.7 million units worth N1.8 billion, Linkage Assurance exchanged 55.1 million units for N99.2 million, VFD Group sold 35.5 million units worth N378.8 million, and Ellah Lakes transacted 33.1 million units valued at N334.3 million.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Oil prices rose around 2 per cent on Wednesday as hostilities in the Middle East erupted anew and talks between Iran and the United States showed little progress.
Brent futures grew by $1.81 or 1.89 per cent to $97.81 per barrel, and the US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude climbed $2.26 or 2.41 per cent to $96.02 a barrel.
According to reports, Iran launched ballistic missiles toward regional neighbours Kuwait and Bahrain, killing one person and injuring dozens, while the US forces conducted strikes on Iran’s Qeshm Island.
Iranian drones and missiles struck Kuwait International Airport overnight, causing the country to immediately suspend air traffic, activate emergency procedures, and divert flights to alternative airports.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said the operation was retaliation for recent US military actions and warned that regional states supporting American operations could face further consequences. Kuwait hosts major US military facilities and serves as a key logistics hub for American operations across the Middle East, but until then had largely avoided becoming a direct target.
Following the overnight attack, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) called for a united Gulf stance.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump said Iran had agreed not to have a nuclear weapon and that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei was involved in negotiations. He has insisted this week that discussions remain active and said a broader agreement could emerge within days, while Iranian officials have delivered contradictory messages.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said contacts with American representatives have not been cut off, but no progress has been made in the negotiations.
The prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz continues to bottleneck global energy supplies, driving sustained upward pressure on oil markets.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) has warned that global oil inventories could hit critical levels ahead of peak summer demand if stock draws continue at their current pace.
Crude oil inventories in the US decreased by 8.0 million barrels during the week ending May 29, according to data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) released on Wednesday. The EIA’s data release follows figures by the American Petroleum Institute (API) that were released a day earlier, which reported that crude oil inventories saw a draw of 6.75 million barrels in the period.
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