Economy
Abuja Hosts Nigeria Mining Week October
By Dipo Olowookere
Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Mr Kayode Fayemi, will deliver the welcome address at the much anticipated launch of the Nigeria Mining Week taking place in Abuja from October 25-28, 2016 at Sheraton Hotel.
The event is coming following the enthusiastic response from the mining community and the Nigerian government to the inaugural iPAD Nigeria Mining Forum in partnership with PwC Nigeria last year.
The organisers have joined forces with the Miners Association of Nigeria to create an all-encompassing meeting place for the sector.
“Diversifying the Nigerian economy is currently in the spotlight,” says Cyril Azobu, PwC Nigeria’s Mining Sector Leader and Head Consulting, “and the new Government has highlighted the potential of the solid minerals sector in achieving this.”
Mr Azobu adds: “The Nigeria Mining Week will be hosted by the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development and provide the opportunity for the government to unveil the next phase for the growth of the mining industry leading to the industrialisation of Nigeria. It will also open the door to an exclusive investment and networking opportunity for mining stakeholders towards propelling the mineral sector reform, and deliver key information for the creation of new business ventures and partnerships.”
The Nigeria Mining Week will comprise a grand opening, the iPAD Nigeria Mining and Quarrying Forum in partnership with PwC conference and exhibition, as well as a workshop for artisanal and small scale miners and a grand closing.
The event will welcome the entire mining ecosystem comprising of artisanal and small scale miners, junior mining operators, exploration companies, local and international investors, financial institutions, traders, solution providers as well as government bodies, to meet and discuss the current state of the market.
Nigeria’s economy was valued at $510billion in 2014 (The Economist), and is considered the largest economy in Africa and one of the fastest growing economies in the world with a long-term average growth of 7.7%. Nigeria’s vastly underexploited natural resources include about 44 varieties of minerals in over 500 locations.
In March 2016, the Roadmap for the Development of the Solid Minerals Sector was launched and following the inaugural iPAD Nigeria Mining Forum in partnership with PwC in 2015, recommendations were given to Government and the private sector.
Programme highlights will include:
* Keynote and opening session – Ministerial address and leaders panel
Theme: “Towards a new paradigm in natural resource management”
Chairperson: Uyi Akpata, Country Senior Partner and Regional Senior Partner West Africa, PwC Nigeria, Nigeria
Confirmed keynote speakers:
Mr Kayode Fayemi, Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Nigeria
The King of the Royal Bafokeng Nation, Kgosi Leruo Molotlegi, South Africa
Dr Toni Aubynn, Chief Executive Officer, Minerals Commission, Ghana
Dr Frank Udemba Jacobs, President, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Nigeria
Other programme highlights during the iPAD Nigeria Mining & Quarrying Forum include:
* Key Nigerian mining projects showcase
This session aims to provide stakeholders with an update on viable projects that Nigeria can in order to attract investment.
Chairperson: Nere Teriba, Managing Director, Kian Smith Trade, Nigeria
Why Nigeria, why now? A brief overview of the mining sector’s potential
Prof. Ibrahim Garba, Vice Chancellor of Amadou Bello University, Nigeria
Investor showcase – snapshot of some key Nigerian projects:
– Symbol Base Metal: Carmie Olowoyo, General Manager – Corporate, Australia
– Promethean Resources: Demola Gbadegesin, Managing Director, Nigeria
– Kogi Iron: Kevin Joseph, Chief Executive Officer, KCM Mining, Nigeria
– ETA Zuma: Dr. Innocent Ezuma, Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria
* Licence to mine – interactive panel to understand Nigeria’s geology and how to access permits
Chair: Prof. Gbenga Okunlola, President of the Nigerian Mining & Geosciences Association, Nigeria
The panellists are:
– Alhaji Mohamed Amate, Director General, Mining Cadastral Office, Nigeria
– Alex Nwegbu, Director General, Geological Survey Agency, Nigeria
– Nere Teriba, Managing Director, Kian Smith Trade, Nigeria
– Prof. Muhammed Tawfiq Ladan, Department of Public Law of the Faculty of Law, Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria
– Olubukola Ashaolu Shopeju, Director, Bukabella Global Services, Nigeria
The country’s mining industry is showing its buy-in again with Akabogu & Associates, Nigachem Nigeria Ltd, Advocaat, Kian Smith Trade & Co, Palladium Mining Ltd and SBOG already confirmed as sponsors.
The Nigeria Mining Week is organised by Spintelligent in partnership with PwC and the Miners Association of Nigeria. Spintelligent is a well-known trade conference and expo organiser on the continent.
The company has particular expertise and experience in mining and infrastructure development events; including the long running flagship shows such as the iPAD series, the DRC Mining Week, CBM-TEC in Zambia, the Kenya Mining Forum in Nairobi and African Utility Week in Cape Town.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Federal Ministry of Finance has directed the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) to suspend enforcement of disputed recapitalisation fees and a directive requiring NICON Insurance Limited and the Nigeria Reinsurance Corporation to transfer their entire fresh capital into an escrow account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The ministry also demanded a detailed response and legal justification from NAICOM over assessments of N305 million against NICON and N375 million against Nigeria Re as part of the ongoing insurance industry recapitalisation exercise.
The directive was contained in a letter dated August 6, 2026, signed by the Permanent Secretary, Finance, Mr Raymond Omachi, on behalf of the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Taiwo Oyedele.
The letter followed a July 27 petition by NICON and Nigeria Re over the implementation of the Nigerian Insurance Industry Reform Act, 2025. The companies challenged NAICOM’s demand for a one per cent capital injection fee, alongside processing and verification charges under the commission’s Minimum Capital Requirement Guidelines.
They also disputed a directive requiring existing insurance companies to transfer their entire recapitalisation funds into a CBN escrow account, arguing that Section 16(3) of NIIRA 2025 provides for a statutory deposit of only 10 per cent.
According to the Finance Ministry, NICON and Nigeria Re had injected N20 billion and N30 billion respectively into Mudaraba Term Deposit accounts with Lotus Bank, exceeding their adjusted capital requirements of N16 billion and N28 billion.
The companies also deposited N2.5 billion and N3.5 billion respectively with the CBN as statutory deposits and paid initial fees of N80 million and N75 million.
The ministry said the companies therefore considered themselves compliant with the July 31, 2026 recapitalisation deadline.
“Pending the determination of the petition, the Commission should suspend the enforcement of the contested processing fees, 1 per cent capital injection fee demands, and full-capital escrow transfer directives against NICON Insurance Limited and Nigeria Reinsurance Corporation,” the letter stated.
The ministry consequently asked NAICOM to explain the basis and legal justification for the disputed charges and escrow requirement.
The intervention comes amid the Federal Government’s efforts to strengthen the capital base of insurance companies and reinsurers, improve their capacity to underwrite larger risks and enhance the sector’s contribution to economic development.
The dispute, however, has raised questions over the extent of NAICOM’s authority to impose additional fees and require existing insurers to place their entire recapitalisation funds in escrow.
The Finance Ministry’s letter did not disclose whether NAICOM had responded to the issues raised. It also referenced an alleged N500 million demand and an additional N180 million capitalisation charge in its subject, although the substantive section specifically put the disputed assessments at N305 million for NICON and N375 million for Nigeria Re.
For now, enforcement of the contested fees and full-capital escrow directive against the two state-owned insurers has been suspended pending NAICOM’s response and legal clarification.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Four price decliners overpowered the two price gainers recorded at the NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange on Monday, August 10, weakening it by 0.32 per cent at the close of transactions.
The advancers were led by Food Concepts Plc, which chalked up 25 Kobo to sell at N2.75 per unit versus the previous price of N2.50 per unit, and Mass Telecoms Innovation Plc appreciated by 3 Kobo to 35 Kobo per share from 32 Kobo per share.
However, 11 Plc lost N24.75 to close at N222.75 per unit versus N247.50 per unit, FrieslandCampina Wamco Nigeria Plc declined by N3.09 to N145.00 per share from N148.09 per share, Industrial and General Insurance (IGI) Plc went down by 5 Kobo to 50 Kobo per unit from 55 Kobo per unit, and Geo-Fluids Plc slid by 1 Kobo to N2.27 per share from N2.28 per share.
As a result, the market capitalisation contracted by N8.94 billion to N2.798 trillion from the previous session’s N2.807 trillion, and the NASD Security Index (NSI) retreated by 14.9 points to 4,663.18 points from 4,678.08 points.
The trading data showed that the volume of securities exchanged by investors rose by 108.9 per cent to 1.1 million units from 535,7560 units, and the value of securities jumped by 69.5 per cent to N10.2 million from N6.0 million, while the number of deals executed receded by 2.8 per cent to 35 deals from 36 deals.
Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) Plc closed the trading session as the most traded stock by value on a year-to-date basis, with 3.4 billion units exchanged for N8.4 billion, followed by Infrastructure Credit Guarantee (Infracredit) Plc with 2.3 billion units valued at N6.5 billion, and Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc with 77.0 million units transacted for N5.5 billion.
GNI Plc also ended the day 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.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Naira opened the week on a positive note, appreciating against the US Dollar by N5.55 or 0.41 per cent in the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEM) on Monday, August 10, to N1,360.14/$1 from N1,365.69/$1.
The domestic currency also improved its exchange rate against the Pound Sterling in the official market during the session by 67 Kobo to sell at N1,838.50/£1 compared with the preceding session’s N1,839.17/£1, and gained N4.64 against the Euro to quote at N1,571.09/€1, in contrast to last Friday’s N1,575.73/€1.
However, the Naira maintained stability against the Dollar in the black market and the GTBank forex counter on Monday at N1,400/$1 and N1,371/$1, respectively.
Data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) showed that interbank FX turnover fell by 46 per cent yesterday to $213.845 million from the $393.477 million recorded at the close of trading on Friday.
The decline came despite a sharp increase in the volume of foreign exchange transactions executed during the session, indicating weaker participation by high-ticket FX customers and other major market participants.
The lower turnover suggests reduced demand for FX among large-scale buyers, even as market makers continued to facilitate transactions through the NAFEM window, with the number of FX traded rising to 182 from 102.
In the cryptocurrency market, traders and investors took profit as broader markets’ focus shifted to rising bond yields, higher oil prices and upcoming US inflation data.
Cardano (ADA) depreciated by 5.2 per cent to $0.1873, Ethereum (ETH) slipped by 2.6 per cent to $1,873.43, Ripple (XRP) slumped by 2.3 per cent to $1.01, Bitcoin (BTC) fell by 1.8 per cent to $63,949.22, Solana (SOL) crashed by 1.3 per cent to $75.81, and Binance Coin (BNB) tumbled by 0.6 per cent to $599.49.
But TRON (TRX) gained 0.5 per cent to trade at $0.3314, and Dogecoin (DOGE) grew by 0.2 per cent to $0.0700, while the US Dollar Tether (USDT) and the US Dollar Coin (USDC) traded flat at $1.00 apiece.
