Economy
Naira Gains 1.7% at Official FX Window as Devaluation Fears Quell
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Naira appreciated against the US Dollar at the Investors and Exporters (I&E) window of the foreign exchange (FX) market by 1.7 per cent or N7 on Friday, assuaging fears that the currency will be devalued again.
The local currency sold for N415.07/$1 at the official FX window yesterday in contrast to N422.07/$1 it traded on Thursday, according to data obtained from FMDQ Securities Exchange.
The Nigerian currency had suffered a significant loss a day earlier after investors feared that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) may be forced to devalue the Naira again.
Speaking at the Economic Sustainability Plan (ESP) earlier this week, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo had said there was a “need to move our rates to [be] as reflective of the market as possible. This, in my own respective view, is the only way to improve supply,” which was indicative of devaluation.
He progressed by saying that, “We can’t get new dollars into the system, where the exchange rate is artificially low. And everyone knows how much our reserves can grow. I’m convinced that the demand management strategy currently being adopted by the CBN needs a rethink, and that is just my view.”
He also lamented the lack of access to forex for the importation of systems and raw materials as one of the contributory factors of the current economic situation.
Although the Vice President has come out to say he did not call for a devaluation, the market had spurred to action but has now rebalanced.
At the final session of the week, a turnover worth $337.28 million was recorded as against $141.94 million published at the preceding session.
This indicated a $195.34 million or 137.6 per cent surge in the daily turnover of the specialised market that caters to the country’s investors and exporters.
However, the domestic currency closed flat against the American Dollar at N410.91/$1 at the interbank segment of the forex market on Friday.
Meanwhile, Bitcoin (BTC) continued a surge at the cryptocurrency market, trading at N34,900,200.01 after a 6.1 per cent gain as hopes grew that regulators in the United States would allow a futures-based exchange-traded fund (ETF), a move likely to open the path to wider investment in digital assets. It largely spurred a boost in the most popular digital currency and also robbed off on some others.
Tron (TRX) added 2.9 per cent to trade at N55.58, Dash (DASH) rose by 2.5 per cent to sell for N107,420.17, Binance Coin (BNB) made a 1.2 per cent appreciation to trade at N194,938.27, Litecoin (LTC) sold for N101,102.04 after rising by 0.4 per cent, while Ethereum (ETH) gained 0.3 per cent to trade at N2,174,753.84.
On the losing side, Dogecoin (DOGE) was 1.3 per cent down to sell at N133.66, Cardano (ADA) fell by 0.8 per cent to N1,254.12, the US Dollar Tether (USDT) moved downwards by 0.6 per cent to sell for N568.38, while Ripple (XRP) lost 0.3 per cent to trade at N644.01.
Economy
NGX Suspends Trading in Fortis Global Insurance Equities
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
Trading in the equities of Fortis Global Insurance Plc on the floor of the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited has been suspended.
The action was taken on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, by the regulatory subsidiary of the NGX Group Plc, NGX Regulation (NGX RegCo) Limited.
It was to prevent investors from buying and selling the company’s securities on the stock market ahead of its share reconstruction.
According to a circular signed by the Head of Issuer Regulation Department of NGX RegCo, Mr Godstime Iwenekhai, the suspension is also to determine the shareholders who are entitled to receive the reconstructed shares.
“Trading license holders and the investing public are hereby notified that trading in the shares of Fortis Global Insurance Plc was suspended on Wednesday, June 17, 2026.
“The suspension is necessary to prevent trading in the shares of Fortis Global Insurance Plc to enable the Company’s Registrars and the Central Securities Clearing System Plc (CSCS) to reconcile their books for the listing of the reconstructed shares on Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX).
“The suspension is also required for the purpose of determining the shareholders who are entitled to receive the reconstructed shares,” the notice stated.
Economy
NUPRC, NRS to Strengthen Oil Revenue Collection
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Efforts are being made to deepen collaboration to promote transparency and accountability in the collection of oil and gas revenue in Nigeria.
Two key organisations involved in this, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), recently held a strategic meeting to further work on ways to achieve this goal.
The chief executive of NUPRC, Mrs Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, was at the headquarters of the tax-collecting agency in Abuja on Wednesday.
In discussions with the chairman of NRS, Mr Zacch Adedeji, she praised him for driving reforms that culminated in the enactment of the NRS Act.
Speaking on the transfer of revenue collection responsibilities, Mrs Eyesan said the process had been seamless, highlighting her organisation’s efforts to create an enabling environment for operators in the oil and gas industry.
She further revealed that Nigeria had the potential to produce 1.9 million barrels per day, having hit a peak production of 1.86 million barrels per day in May.
In his response, the NRS chairman praised NUPRC for its dynamism, professionalism and transparency, promising continued collaboration with the commission, particularly on matters relating to the transfer of revenue collection functions under the new Act.
“I collect revenue. I don’t generate revenue. Wherever revenue is, I work on it and keep an account for you. So, I’m helping you to collect your royalties,” Mr Adedeji said.
He pledged that the NRS would continue to support the commission to achieve its shared objective of increasing government revenues in a fair, transparent and sustainable manner.
Economy
NASD OTC Exchange Gains N26.99bn as Investors Drive 1.04% Rally
By Adedapo Adesanya
The NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange jumped 1.04 per cent on Wednesday, June 17, with the market capitalisation adding N26.99 billion to settle at N2.619 trillion compared with the previous session’s N2.592 trillion, and the Unlisted Security Index (NSI) rising by 45.1 points to close at 4,378.45 points, in contrast to the preceding day’s 4,333.35 points.
The rally was driven by the gains reported by two securities, which outweighed the losses posted by three securities, led by FrieslandCampina Wamco Nigeria Plc, which dipped by N1.95 to N178.19 per unit from N180.14 per unit. Geo-Fluids Plc lost 19 Kobo to close at N2.61 per share compared with Tuesday’s closing price of N2.80 per share, and Food Concepts Plc slid by 1 Kobo to N1.77 per unit from N1.78 per unit.
On the flip side, Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc recorded a N6.33 appreciation to trade at N86.57 per share versus the previous day’s N80.24 per share, and Light House Financial Services Plc grew by 10 Kobo to N1.13 per unit from the N1.03 per unit it closed a day earlier.
In the midweek session, the value of stocks traded by investors surged by 181.0 per cent to N128.3 million from the preceding session’s N45.6 million, the volume of securities increased by 305.6 per cent to 2.8 million units from Tuesday’s 688,290 units, and the number of deals executed jumped by 6.5 per cent to 33 deals from 31 deals.
At the close of trades, Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) Plc remained the most active stock on a year-to-date basis, with 3.4 billion units valued at N8.4 billion, followed by Infrastructure Credit Guarantee (Infracredit) Plc with 2.3 billion units sold for N6.5 billion, and CSCS Plc with 67.3 million units exchanged for N4.6 billion.
GNI Plc also ended as the most traded stock by volume on a year-to-date basis, with 3.4 billion units worth N8.4 billion, followed by Infracredit Plc with 2.3 billion units sold for N6.5 billion, and Resourcery Plc with 1.1 billion units traded for N415.7 million.
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