Economy
Businesses Not Feeling Full Benefits of Tinubu’s Reforms—NECA
By Adedapo Adesanya
Many private sector operators have yet to experience the anticipated gains of President Bola Tinubu’s reforms as they continue to grapple with inflation, energy costs and exchange rate volatility, the Director-General of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), Mr Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, has said.
Mr Oyerinde acknowledged that the removal of fuel subsidy and liberalisation of the foreign exchange market reflected the government’s commitment to market-driven economic policies and improved transparency across sectors.
He said the reforms had enhanced fuel availability, reduced recurring supply disruptions and signalled policy consistency to both local and foreign investors, but noted that while there are indications of improved investor confidence, many domestic businesses, particularly Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), continue to contend with operational challenges.
The NEC chief said the depreciation of the Naira had increased production costs, affected competitiveness and heightened operational risks for many businesses.
“Many private sector operators are yet to experience the anticipated gains of the reforms as they continue to grapple with inflation, energy costs and exchange rate volatility,” he said in a recent interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) while assessing the administration’s economic performance.
Mr Oyerinde said declining consumer purchasing power and increasing production expenses had placed pressure on businesses, with some firms adjusting investment plans and operations in response to prevailing economic conditions.
On infrastructure and refining, the NECA DG said developments in housing, industrial investments and local petroleum refining had created opportunities and contributed to improved fuel supply.
He, however, identified power supply as a major challenge facing businesses, citing persistent grid instability and reliance on alternative energy sources.
“In spite of the ongoing reforms in the power sector, insufficient electricity supply remains the number one constraint to business productivity and competitiveness across the country,” he said.
Mr Oyerinde said that although some macroeconomic indicators, including foreign reserves and government revenues, had shown improvement, the gains were yet to be broadly reflected in business operations and household welfare.
“Inflation, high energy costs, multiple taxation, logistics challenges and weak consumer spending continue to constrain productivity and limit business expansion,” he said.
He said employers remained cautious about large-scale recruitment amid high borrowing costs, foreign exchange volatility and rising operating expenses.
According to him, sustainable job creation will depend on deeper structural reforms that reduce the cost of doing business and improve access to affordable finance.
He urged the government to prioritise stable power supply, lower energy costs, tax harmonisation, policy consistency and foreign exchange stability to accelerate economic recovery and strengthen investor confidence.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources has conscripted the Department of State Services (DSS), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the Nigeria Police Force to address the hoarding and diversion of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), also known as cooking gas, to neighbouring countries.
A statement by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) on Monday stated that the move followed the recent increase in LPG (cooking gas) prices and developed coordinated measures to improve supply, affordability, and market stability across the country.
Business Post reports that in recent weeks, prices of the fuel have gone as high as N2,400 per kg in some areas in Lagos and Ogun State, but have since dropped to around N1,900 and N2,000 in the last few days.
In a statement by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) on Monday, the meeting also brought together other key government officials, regulators, producers, marketers, terminal operators, and industry associations to examine factors contributing to rising LPG prices and agree on practical interventions to strengthen the value chain.
Speaking at the engagement, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Patience Oyekunle, described LPG as a critical energy source for households and an important component of Nigeria’s energy transition agenda.
She noted that rising LPG prices are putting additional pressure on household budgets and increasing the cost of essential goods, stressing the need for collective action to improve access to affordable cooking gas.
While speaking at the meeting, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, stated that President Bola Tinubu is concerned about the impact of rising LPG prices on Nigerians and has directed relevant agencies to take proactive steps to address the situation.
He emphasised that increased supply must be supported by efficient logistics, improved infrastructure, and transparent pricing mechanisms to ensure consumers benefit from interventions across the sector.
The chief executive of the NMDPRA, Mr Rabiu Umar, noted that high landing costs continue to influence cooking gas prices but expressed optimism that ongoing measures across the value chain would begin to ease market pressures in the coming weeks.
He added that the authority is working with producers and other stakeholders to increase domestic supply, strengthen market oversight, and support interventions that will improve availability.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited and Dangote Refinery imported a total of 38,000 barrels per day of petrol in May 2026 as the country returned actively to the importation of the fuel.
According to a report by Argus, gasoline (petrol) deliveries to Nigeria were a four-month high of 57,000 barrels a day in the review month.
This came after import permits were issued for the second quarter and market participants flagged maintenance works at independently-owned Dangote’s 700,000 barrels per day Lekki refinery.
The platform reported that petrol exports from Nigeria were 23,000 barrels per day, of which Dangote carried out 65 per cent of the product at 15,000 barrels per day.
This meant Nigeria returned to net gasoline importer status in the month, after net exporting 49,000 barrels per day in April and 6,000 barrels per day in March, citing Kpler data.
The sole destination of all Nigeria’s petrol imports in May came from Europe. A breakdown showed that Nigeria got 37 per cent (21,000 barrels per day) from Norway, Italy provided 16 per cent (9,000 barrels per day), and France covered 14 per cent (8,000 barrels per day).
Out of the 57,000 barrels per day of product brought into the country, Dangote Refinery bought 27,000 barrels per day while the state-owned NNPC brought in 11,000 per day.
Argus, citing Kpler, said the buyer or buyers of the remaining 19,000 barrels per day. These were likely independent marketers who were issued import licenses during the month.
This means Dangote remains the top petrol producer and importer in the country. The refinery owner brought in 29,000 barrels per day of the 67,000 barrels per day total petrol imports in January-May.
According to the Argus report, Nigerian petrol imports have been elevated so far in June, with license holders likely to exercise their allocations before expiry at month-end. AA Rano has landed 56,000 barrels per day, and NNPC has imported 121,000 barrels per day. The 177,000 barrels per day of petrol cargo arrivals in June to date are three times higher than in May and up from 140,000 barrels per day in June 2025.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mr Emomotimi Agama, has called for stronger collaboration among African capital markets to enhance regional integration, promote cross-border investments, and drive economic growth across the continent.
Mr Agama made the call in Abuja on Monday during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Nigeria’s Securities and Exchange Commission and the Capital Markets Authority (CMA) of Rwanda.
The agreement is aimed at strengthening cooperation between the two regulatory bodies in areas including investor education, capital market development, information exchange on regulatory and market developments, capacity building, technical assistance, and cooperation on enforcement and supervisory matters.
According to the MoU, both parties recognise the importance of collaboration in fostering confidence, innovation, market development, and sound practices within their respective capital markets, while also supporting regional and international engagement.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Mr Agama emphasised the need for African countries to deepen cooperation and invest in one another’s markets to build a more interconnected and prosperous continent.
“We are excited about this opportunity to help develop your capital market. We need to cooperate in Africa, invest in each other’s markets and grow our continent. In so doing, we will build collaboration so that, as Africans, we can have a common focus and create a strong interconnection. The time is now for us to look inwards,” he said.
The SEC Director-General commended Rwanda’s economic progress and acknowledged the country’s achievements in attracting investment and promoting commerce.
“We appreciate the strength of the Rwandan economy and the efforts made to rekindle the real value of the African race. On our part, we have a very strong capital market structure, and we want to see what role the capital market can play in advancing Africa’s development agenda,” Agama stated.
He described the capital market as the nerve centre of the economy, stressing the need for citizens to understand and utilise it as a tool for wealth creation and improved living standards.
“The capital market is an enabler of economic development, and we believe there is much Rwanda can learn from Nigeria’s experience to strengthen its market. We are willing to contribute to the success of other nations because our relationship and integration will help build both markets and improve the lives of our citizens,” he said.
Mr Agama further urged African governments to leverage long-term capital from the market to finance infrastructure projects, describing the capital market as a critical solution for mobilising sustainable development financing.
“We see the capital market as a solution provider for moving economies forward. We want to make Africa better and a destination of choice for investors. We are committed to working jointly with other regulators to achieve this objective,” he added.
In his remarks, Chief Executive Officer of the Capital Markets Authority of Rwanda, Mr Romeo Ngarambe, welcomed the partnership and expressed confidence that the collaboration would support the growth of Rwanda’s capital market.
“We are here to learn from Nigeria, which has a more advanced capital market. We are confident that the lessons and experiences shared will contribute significantly to the development of our market. Whatever knowledge you provide, we will make good use of it, and we look forward to a fruitful partnership,” Mr Ngarambe said.
The MoU is expected to strengthen regulatory cooperation between both countries and support broader efforts toward the integration and development of African capital markets.
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