Economy
Nigeria Needs Double-Digit Growth to Reduce Poverty—Yuguda
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
If Nigeria intends to reduce poverty and provide for the welfare of its citizens, then it must ensure that the economy records a double-digit growth rate.
This was the submission of the Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mr Lamido Yuguda, at the annual workshop of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) with the theme Leveraging the Financial markets to achieve double-digit economic growth for Nigeria held in Abuja last Thursday.
While delivering his paper at the event which attracted various stakeholders, Mr Yuguda noted that growing the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) by 10 per cent and above should not be a herculean task given that most key factors of production like a large vibrant youthful population, arable land, abundant rainfall, good drainage and a large and growing pool of savings are available.
He stressed that one key factor dragging the country backwards was infrastructure, noting that solving this problem will accelerate domestic production and employment given the direct correlation between an increase in production and job creation.
“Infrastructure is the area where we have a major problem and I mean roads and rail transportation, power generation and distribution, health infrastructure, and the like.
“I believe the capital market can play a vital role in the financing of infrastructure and forums such as this one would do well to dwell on this important subject.
“Recall that at independence in 1960, the domestic savings pool was rather limited, yet the new nation was able to mobilise adequate funds from both domestic and foreign sources to fund the construction of highways, railways and large power projects.
“These same projects are in a dismal state today when the population has grown more than threefold. The commission is increasingly focusing its attention on this subject because of its impact on economic development and the quality of life of our citizens,” Mr Yuguda said.
The SEC boss described the theme of the workshop as very relevant, particularly for a developing economy like Nigeria.
According to him, with a GDP growth rate of -1.92 per cent in 2020 and an IMF growth forecast of only 2.5 per cent for 2021, Nigeria must do more to make its citizens happy, noting that there was a need to urgently address the country’s high unemployment rate which currently stands at over 30 per cent.
He said SEC, as the apex body responsible for regulating and developing the Nigerian capital market, undertakes specific activities to ensure investor protection, preserve the integrity of the market and improve its overall efficiency through registration, surveillance and enforcement activities.
The agency, he stated, also supports market development through investor education and the introduction of robust frameworks for new products and processes in collaboration with market stakeholders.
“The activities of the commission are necessary to ensure a well-regulated, effective, deep and liquid capital market which is crucial for promoting optimal capital allocation and intermediation to finance productive investment and generate much-needed employment in the Nigerian economy,” he said.
According to him, “Over the past decade, the Nigerian capital market has grown significantly with a major uptick in activities both in the equity and bond markets, including leaps in the growth and size of Collective Investment Schemes.
“The growth, however, slowed in the past 3 to 4 years owing to a recessionary trend experienced in the economy. This is because the Nigerian capital market closely mirrors the Nigerian economy and feels the full effect of the prevailing economic situation of the country.
“To further increase the capital market’s contribution to the growth and development of the Nigerian economy, the commission is currently implementing its 10-year Capital Market Master Plan (2015-2025).
“The commission is midway into the implementation and has embarked on a review of the Plan – in collaboration with the relevant market stakeholders – to reflect new realities and sharpen its focus,” Mr Yuguda disclosed.
He, therefore, assured that the agency will continue to work assiduously towards achieving its mission of developing and regulating a capital market that is dynamic, fair, transparent and efficient, to contribute to the nation’s economic development.
“I believe that if we all contribute our quota, we can achieve a Nigeria characterized by sustainable growth and increased job creation through efficient intermediation and allocation of resources in the financial market,” he added.
In his remarks, the President/Chairman of Council of CIS, Mr Olatunde Amolegbe, said Nigeria is blessed with immense human and natural resources, but expressed dismay that the country is listed among the poorest countries in the world in terms of per capita income.
“Just recently, in 2020, the country fell into its second economic recession in 5 years, although largely attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic which affected all countries in the world. We exited the recession in the fourth quarter of the same year 2020
“However, the critical point we have to note is that, historically, it has been observed that poorer countries need a much faster rate of GDP growth than the advanced economies of the world in to maintain standards of living as well as keep up with higher population growth rate,” he stated.
Mr Amolegbe said the theme for this year’s workshop has become imperative to drive the Nigerian economy as driving the economy will require financing of the right form, type, and mix.
He said despite government best efforts, the local financial market cannot be said to have been utilized optimally as of yet adding that the trend must be reviewed and reversed.
“Not long ago the capital market was used as the fulcrum of fundraising by all the different tiers of government. Such fund is always utilized for infrastructure development. Full subscription to the government’s revenue bond which is a form of borrowing is was widely used as the risk level is almost nil.
“Besides, governments’ participation in the market is a win-win affair for the government, the market, and investors. The time has come for all tiers of government to stage a comeback to the financial market to enhance capital raise for infrastructure development. Our seasoned facilitators shall surely do justice to this time-tested theme today.
“It is obvious that accelerated development of infrastructure will bring about job creation and employment opportunities with multiplier effects on the nation’s GDP. China’s GDP grows at an average of 10 per cent per year. This has lifted over 800 million people out of poverty in recent years,” he stated.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The chief executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Mr Saidu Mohammed, has revealed that bold economic reforms by President Bola Tinubu’s administration saved the country over N6 trillion on petroleum product imports in just the first nine months of 2025.
Mr Mohammed disclosed this while speaking at the Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES) in Abuja, said the savings were the result of full downstream deregulation, harmonisation of the forex market, and the trading of crude and petroleum products in Naira.
He added that these bold moves have created stability in the downstream petroleum market, encouraged investment, and ensured a sufficient supply of petroleum products across the country.
The NMDPRA boss also revealed that the nation’s refining capacity is expected to surpass 1 million barrels per stream day (bpsd) in the medium term.
He said the surge in domestic refining capacity is being driven by a combination of new refinery investments, the rehabilitation of existing Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited refineries, and strategic private-sector participation.
According to him, the planned investments in other refineries, along with issued Licences to Establish (LTEs) for new facilities, will continue to expand Nigeria’s refining footprint, reducing dependence on imported products and stabilising domestic supply.
He said: “For decades, our downstream value chain has been associated with negative sectoral performance indicators such as infrastructural deficit, weak market structures, sub-optimal supply chain efficiency, inadequate investment, poor regulatory compliance, and unacceptable operational safety and environmental indices.
“Today, I am pleased to affirm that this narrative is rapidly changing and that the sector is truly witnessing the early but irreversible signs of a renaissance-type transformation that is driven by bold reform; enabled by investment; and sustained by effective market and operational regulatory enablement.
“In the few years of the operationalisation of the new legal framework of the Oil and Gas sector in Nigeria (PIA 2021), Nigeria’s downstream sector has evolved into a fully liberalised market and is no longer defined by scarcity and supply uncertainty.
Supply stability has consistently ensured sufficiency of all Petroleum products. The pricing structure of the downstream sector is becoming more driven by the fundamentals of the market and generally attaining the stability level required for encouraging investment in this expansive sector of the economy.
“The supply chain landscape of the sector, which depended significantly on import of nearly all Petroleum Products for a long time, is rapidly transforming with growing supply through the nation’s domestic refining capacity, expanding gas-based alternative fuels, improved logistics, and increased private-sector participation.
“At the heart of this transformation stands the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, the largest single-train refinery in the world with an installed capacity of 650,000 barrels per stream day (bpsd), which is currently contributing a significant portion and in some cases 100 per cent of our domestic requirement of Petroleum Products. The optimal operationalisation of the plant’s installed capacity and future upscaling of the plant is undoubtedly needed to fulfil the national aspirations of making Nigeria a regional and continental energy hub.
“The capacity for enhanced domestic supply of Petroleum product in Nigeria will continue to grow as the planned investments in our refinery sector mature. We are optimistic that the issued Licences to Establish (LTEs) refineries, which are being progressed through various levels of completion, coupled with the rehabilitation of the NNPCL refineries, will improve the overall installed refining capacity in Nigeria to well over 1 million bpsd in the medium term.
“The bold economic reforms of President Bola Tinubu have created the renaissance that the downstream sector is enjoying and would continue to leverage upon for sustained sectoral growth in the future. The cumulative impact of the full deregulation of the downstream sector, the harmonisation of the forex market, the incentivization and deepening the use of gas and the trading of crude and product in Naira has reduced the fiscal economic losses of importing Petroleum Product by over N6 trillion in the 1st nine months of 2025.”
By Adedapo Adesanya
The federal government says Nigeria is targeting gas production of 10 billion standard cubic feet per day (bscfd) by 2030, positioning natural gas as a cornerstone of national energy security and economic prosperity.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Mr Ekperikpe Ekpo, said this while delivering a ministerial address at the ninth Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES) 2026 in Abuja.
The Minister said the government’s efforts were yielding tangible results, with Nigeria’s gas production maintaining an upward trajectory in 2025, averaging between 7.5 and 7.6bscfd.
He disclosed that domestic gas supply exceeded two bscfd for the first time, marking a historic milestone for power generation, industrial use and household consumption.
The Minister also said significant progress in environmental performance, with gas flaring reduced to some of the lowest levels recorded in recent years, in line with Nigeria’s commitment to end routine gas flaring by 2030.
He noted that investor confidence in the gas sector had been strengthened, citing Final Investment Decisions (FIDs) in key upstream gas projects supported by improved regulatory clarity under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
“Across the midstream and downstream segments, pipeline infrastructure, processing facilities and gas-to-power projects have expanded, improving connectivity, boosting domestic utilisation and supporting cleaner cooking solutions, job creation and industrial stability.
“Under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, government policy prioritises the expansion of domestic gas infrastructure while strengthening Nigeria’s presence in regional and global gas markets.
“This includes facilitating investments in gas processing, storage and distribution, as well as accelerating gas-to-power projects aimed at addressing energy poverty and enhancing industrial competitiveness,” he said.
The minister emphasised that Nigeria’s energy future was inseparable from peace, partnership and shared responsibility, calling on governments, investors, development partners, host communities and civil society to move from dialogue to decisive action.
“Our collective task is to build an energy system that powers prosperity, strengthens stability and supports regional integration,” he said.
He said Nigeria’s energy strategy is firmly aligned with global energy transition realities while responding to Africa’s unique development challenges, including widespread energy poverty, limited industrial capacity and inadequate access to reliable power.
“While the world moves towards lower-carbon systems, Africa must pursue a transition that is not only green, but also just, inclusive and development-driven.
“Nigeria is leveraging its abundant natural gas resources to balance climate responsibility with economic development, positioning gas as the backbone of industrial growth, job creation and expanded energy access,” he said.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The 2025 Made of Africa Awards, hosted by Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Group Plc, paraded an array of winners, including brokers, issuing houses, trustees, fund managers, listed companies, and other market participants.
The event was to reward excellence in value delivery, compliance, and market impact, with Transcorp, the Debt Management Office, CardinalStone, Chapel Hill Denham, and MTN Nigeria Communications as recipients.
Business Post reports that the other recipients were First Trustees Limited as the Best Trustees in Terms of Deal Value, Legend Internet as the Market Debut Excellence award winner.
Further, CardinalStone Securities emerged as Equity Trader of the Year and Broker of the Year, Capital Express Securities won ETPs Trader of the Year, and Stanbic IBTC Stockbrokers was named Fixed Income Trader of the Year. Chapel Hill Denham received awards for Fund Manager with the Largest Listed Fund Size and Market Operator with the Highest Value of Foreign Portfolio Investment Transactions.
Mainstreet Capital and APT Securities and Funds jointly won Issuing House with the Highest Number of Primary Market Equity Transactions, while Anchoria Advisory Services led in corporate bond issuances. Dangote Cement was named Best Issuer in Terms of Fixed Income Listings, BUA Cement received the award for Most Compliant Listed Company, and Transnational Corporation Plc was honoured for Capital Market Excellence in Equity. Network Capital was named the Most Compliant Trading License Holder, United Capital Securities won the Best Sponsoring Trading License Holder and Banwo and Ighodalo received recognition for legal advisory value in capital market transactions.
Special recognition went to the Debt Management Office for fixed income market development and to the Capital Markets Correspondence Association of Nigeria for capital market reporting, and Lambeth Capital/Bamboo Systems Technology were recognised for onboarding the highest number of new retail investor accounts.
The chairman of NGX Group, Mr Umaru Kwairanga, said the awards underscore the role of market stakeholders in strengthening investor confidence and improving market standards.
“Their achievements set a benchmark for performance, integrity and innovation across the capital market,” he said, adding that sustaining this level of discipline and transparency is essential to maintaining the trust of both domestic and international investors in Nigeria’s financial markets.
The chief executive of NGX Group, Mr Temi Popoola, said, “Operational efficiency and cooperation across the ecosystem are increasingly important as trading activity diversifies and investor expectations continue to rise.”
On his part, the Executive Commissioner for Operations at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mr Bola Ajomale, said the awards underscore the value of compliance and transparency in market development.
“Recognition through the Made of Africa Awards reinforces the importance of adherence to market rules and standards. When operators demonstrate accountability and professionalism, it strengthens investor confidence, ensures market integrity, and supports sustainable growth across Nigeria’s financial markets,” he said.
The chief executive of NGX Limited, Mr Jude Chiemeka, said recognising strong performance across the ecosystem supports deeper market participation and long-term capital mobilisation.
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