Economy
BUA Cement, Others Boost Nigeria’s Manufacturing Production Value to N3.73trn
By Adedapo Adesanya
Nigeria’s manufacturing sector recorded N3.73 trillion in production in the second half of 2021, 58.1 per cent higher than the N2.36 trillion reported in the corresponding half of 2020.
The president of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Mr Mansur Ahmed, disclosed at a presentation on Thursday that this growth is indicative of the development in the industry.
He noted that the manufacturing production value increased by N0.07 trillion or 1.9 per cent when compared with the N3.66 trillion achieved in the first half of last year, while the total value of production for the year stood at N7.03 trillion as against the N4.42 trillion posted in 2020, which was ravaged by COVID-19, which prompted lockdown in most part of the year.
Mr Ahmed said the increase in the manufacturing production value in the second half of 2021 was associated with increased cement production due to the new BUA cement factory in Sokoto; the African Glass new factory and activities of the five new papermills.
“This is also highlighted by the increased production value in the non-metallic mineral products sector to N374.41 billion in the second half of 2021 from N74.18 billion and N249.79 billion recorded in the corresponding half in 2020 and the preceding half respectively,” he said.
Also, capacity utilisation in the manufacturing sector increased to 59 per cent in the second half of 2021 from 53.7 per cent recorded in the corresponding half of 2020; indicating a 5.3 per cent increase over the period.
It increased by 6.6 per cent when compared with 52.4 per cent recorded in the preceding half and averaged 58.9 per cent in 2021 from the 49.5 per cent average in 2020.
He said Mr Ahmed attributed the increase in manufacturing capacity utilisation to the phasing of economic and social restrictions meant to contain the COVID-19 pandemic and the full rebounding of economic activities globally within the period.
“In addition, there are increased capacities in the paper subsector brought in by five new paper mills that are into recycling of waste papers to produce cartons.
“Also, the additional capacities as BUA Group introduced a cement factory in Sokoto and the new African Glass Ltd. factory that produced glass products influenced the development.
“The performance shows that manufacturing is fast returning to the 2019 pre-COVID-19 level of activities in the country,” he said.
The MAN President revealed that investments in the manufacturing sector increased to N73.18 billion from N56.44 billion recorded in the corresponding half of 2020; indicating N16.74 billion or 29.7 per cent increase over the period.
Ahmed said it increased by N70.96 billion or 49.3 per cent when compared with N144.14 billion recorded in the preceding half with manufacturing investment totalling N217.22 billion in 2021 as against N118.52 billion in 2020.
Manufacturing investment has been gradually recovering following the return of economic activities as the issues of the COVID-19 pandemic are continuously resolved.
“In the last year, significant investment has been recorded in the Pulp, Paper, Printing & Publishing (6Ps) sector with the establishment of five new paper mills that are into recycling of waste papers to produce cartons.
“There is also the new BUA Group cement factory in Sokoko; and the new African Glass Limited factory that produced glass products,” he said.
Also, the total historical cumulative jobs in the manufacturing sector were estimated at 1,671,441 by the end of 2021, based on surveys conducted since 2013.
According to the report, a total of 8,508 jobs were created in the sector in the second half of 2021 as against 3,451 jobs recorded in the corresponding half of 2020 and 7,602 jobs created in the preceding half.
“The total net employment in the sector in 2021, after adjusting for job losses was 11,659 while net job losses in 2020 were 3,257.
“The trend indicates that manufacturing job is also rebounding following the gradual return of economic activities in the sector after a year onslaught brought by COVID-19 pandemic,” it read.
Mr Ahmed said Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) recorded $107.81 million in the third quarter of 2021; translating to a pick up from the downward trend of FDI in the country since the fourth quarter of 2020.
He said the association’s data also revealed an increase from $77.97 million recorded in the second quarter of 2021, which was the lowest level recorded for the past 11 years.
He noted that the report of the manufacturing sector’s FDI revealed an uptick in the third quarter of 2021 when compared with the data recorded in the last three quarters.
“Therefore, the third quarter figure of $107.81 million indicates 29.84 million dollars or 38.27 per cent increase when compared with $77.97 million recorded in the second quarter.
“The figure indicates a drop of $306.98 million or 74.01 per cent when compared with $414.79 million recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2020.
“The third quarter report of NBS revealed that the foreign Portfolio Investment increased to 1217.21 million dollars from $551.37 million dollars indicating, $665.84 million or 120.76 per cent increase over the period,” he said.
Similarly, the figure revealed an increase of $809.96 million or 198.89 per cent when compared with $407.25 million recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2020.
“The FDI increased to $323.83 million in the third quarter of 2021 from 68.03 million dollars recorded in the second quarter of 2021, thus indicating $255.80 million or 376.01 per cent increase over the period.
“However, the report indicated $76.26 million or 19.06 reduction when compared to $400.09 million recorded in the third quarter of 2020,” Mr Ahmed added.
He, however, said local raw materials utilisation in the manufacturing sector dipped to 51.7 per cent in the review period from 56.5 per cent in the corresponding period of 2020; indicating a 4.8 per cent decline over the period.
He noted that since the full opening of the economy from the COVID-19 pandemic, local raw materials and other manufacturing inputs had been relatively scarce and costly.
The MAN boss also said the inventory of unsold finished products dipped to N224.63 billion in the second half of 2021 from N303.22 billion recorded in the corresponding half of 2020.
This, he said, indicated a N78.59 billion or 25.9 per cent decline over the period.
“However, it increased by N9.8 billion or 4.6 per cent when compared with N214.83 billion recorded in the preceding half.
“Inventory in the sector totalled N439.46 billion in 2021 as against N577.61 billion recorded in 2020. “The decline in inventory in the period under review was attributed to the recovering aggregate consumption following the gradual rebounding of economic activities as COVID-19 pandemic receded,” he said.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The names of about 100,000 companies registered by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) are about to be deleted for inactivity, especially for failing to file their annual tax returns, Business Post reports.
This information was disclosed by the CAC via a notice signed by its management on Wednesday, July 15, 2026.
The list contains organisations like the Nigeria-Poland Chamber of Trade Invest Ltd, Alariwo of Afrika Ltd, Ovation Sports International, First Union Pension Fund Administrators, Investopedia Limited, Baptist High School Abuja Ltd, and Yobe Aluminium Manufacturing Industries Ltd, amongst others.
In the statement, the commission said its decision to strike off the names of the affected firms from the register aligns with the provisions of Section 692(3) (3) and (4) of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), 2020.
However, the affected companies can still salvage the situation by filing all outstanding annual returns and regularising their records within 90 days.
“Please note that companies that fail to comply within the stipulated timeline shall be struck off the register without further notice,” it declared, expressing its continued commitment to providing prompt and efficient registration and regulatory services to the satisfaction of its valued customers.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange gained 1.75 per cent on Wednesday, July 15, pushing the NASD Security Index (NSI) up by 74.20 points to 4,316.51 points from 4,242.31 points, as the market capitalisation added N44.54 billion to finish at N2.590 trillion compared with the preceding session’s N2.546 trillion.
During the session, there was an 11.5 per cent rise in the value of transactions at midweek to N72.7 million from the preceding session’s N65.2 million, as there was a 3.7 per cent growth in the number of deals to 28 deals from the previous session’s 27 deals, while the volume of securities slumped by 64.5 per cent to 4.9 million units from 13.7 million units.
At the close of trades, Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) Plc ended as the most active security by value on a year-to-date basis, with 3.4 billion units worth N8.4 billion, with the second spot occupied by Infrastructure Credit Guarantee (Infracredit) Plc after selling 2.3 billion units valued at N6.5 billion, and the third position was taken by Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc, which exchanged 74.3 million units for N5.3 billion.
GNI Plc also finished the trading day as the most traded stock by volume on a year-to-date basis, with a turnover of 3.4 billion units traded for N8.4 billion, followed by Infracredit Plc with 2.3 billion units transacted for N6.5 billion, and Resourcery Plc with 1.1 billion units sold for N415.7 million.
Business Post reports that the market breadth index was negative yesterday, as there were two price gainers and three price losers.
11 Plc added N22.36 to its value to close at N250.00 per share versus N227.64 per share, and CSCS Plc improved by N7.95 to N90.35 per unit from N82.40 per unit.
On the flip side, FrieslandCampina Wamco Nigeria Plc lost N1.37 to end at N150.00 per share versus N151.37 per share, UBN Property Plc depreciated by 6 Kobo to N1.75 per unit from N1.81 per unit, and Food Concepts Plc dropped 1 Kobo to close at N2.49 per share versus N2.50 per share.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Pressure on the Naira eased on Wednesday, July 15, as it appreciated against the United States Dollar by 90 Kobo or 0.07 per cent on Tuesday, July 15, in the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEX) to close at N1,382.18/$1 compared with the previous day’s N1,383.08/$1.
Also, the local currency gained a further N4.07 against the Euro in the official market to sell at N1,576.69/€1 versus Tuesday’s rate of N1,583.76/€1, but depreciated against the Pound Sterling by N1.71 to quote at N1,856.69/£1, in contrast to the preceding session’s N1,854.98/£1.
At the GTBank forex counter, the Naira lost N1 against the greenback at midweek to close at N1,389/$1 compared with the preceding day’s N1,388/$1, and at the black market, it traded flat at N1,405/$1.
Data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) showed that interbank FX turnover moderated as trading activities among financial institutions and market makers declined sharply.
Daily FX data released showed that NFEM interbank FX turnover closed the day at $121.727 million, about 50 per cent below the previous record of $243.095 million set on Tuesday.
Official trading records released by the central bank revealed that interbank FX deals among market makers went down from the previous day to 115 from 140.
Inflation news also eased pressure, even if the print dropped marginally to 15.91 per cent in June, a 0.2 per cent reduction from the 15.93 per cent recorded in the preceding month. The month-on-month headline inflation rate in June 2026 was 1.66 per cent, which was 0.09 per cent lower than the rate recorded in May 2026, which came in at 1.75 per cent.
In the crypto market, prices were mixed as some traders banked on softer-than-expected US inflation reports for June, while others say the inflation data is obsolete, given the renewed strength in oil prices, which sparked after fresh fighting in the Middle East.
US inflation had earlier cooled more than expected, sharply reducing market odds of a near-term Federal Reserve rate hike.
Ethereum (ETH) rose by 1.9 per cent to $1,921.62, Ripple (XRP) appreciated by 0.4 per cent to $1.11, and Binance Coin (BNB) also increased by 0.4 per cent to $582.42.
However, Solana (SOL) dropped 1.3 per cent to finish at $77.29, TRON (TRX) slumped by 0.8 per cent to $0.3240, Dogecoin (DOGE) shrank by 0.6 per cent to $0.0741, Bitcoin (BTC) declined by 0.3 per cent to $64,762.28, and Cardano (ADA) lost 0.2 per cent to end at $0.1640, while the US Dollar Tether (USDT) and the US Dollar Coin (USDC) remained unchanged at $1.00 each.
