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Economy

Coronation Insurance Charts Digital, Sustainable Future

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Coronation Insurance 2024 AGM

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

The digitalisation efforts, investment strategies, and commitment to sustainability have propelled Coronation Insurance Plc back to profitability after it posted a net profit of N2.2 billion in the 2023 financial year, in contrast to the net loss of N1.8 billion achieved in the same period of 2022.

At the company’s 66th Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Lagos on Monday, December 2, 2024, the chairman of the board, Mr Mutiu Sunmonu, the results reaffirmed the role of technology in helping organisations navigate difficult waters.

“Despite the economic headwinds, we delivered strong growth across key financial metrics.

“Our profit before tax of ₦2.2 billion is a clear reflection of our strategic direction, operational discipline, and commitment to creating long-term value for stakeholders,” Mr Sunmonu said as he also acknowledged the broader growth of Nigeria’s insurance sector, where gross premiums rose by 38 per cent in 2023 to N1 trillion, driven by increased activity in the Oil & Gas, Fire, and Motor insurance segments.

Business Post reports that the underwriter posted a 34 per cent growth in insurance revenue to N24 billion from N18 billion in 2022, as net investment income also surged by 228 per cent to N1.5 billion from N461 million in the prior year.

These achievements underline the group’s dedication to optimising its investment portfolio and delivering value to policyholders.

Also addressing shareholders at the gathering, the chief executive of Coronation Insurance, Mr Olamide Olajolo, emphasised the company’s strides in digitalisation, calling it a “game-changer” for its operations.

“Our digitalisation drive has already transformed how we operate and interact with customers,” Mr Olajolo said, adding, “We are leveraging cutting-edge technology to streamline operations and deliver tailored solutions. The journey thus far has been remarkable, and we are committed to sustaining this momentum in 2024 and beyond.”

A shareholder, Mrs Bisi Bakare, praised the company’s efforts, particularly in leveraging technology to enhance customer experience, saying, “The digital transformation has made it easier for customers like me to interact with Coronation Insurance. I am confident that this strategy will keep us competitive and position the company for even greater success.”

Coronation Insurance emphasized its commitment to sustainability by outlining a strategy built on three foundational pillars. The first pillar, Strategic Partnerships, focuses on forging alliances to amplify positive impact and achieve shared goals. The second, Sponsorships and Donations, supports initiatives that align with the company’s mission and values, reinforcing its dedication to societal progress.

Lastly, through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), the company champions projects designed to drive meaningful development within communities. Together, these efforts reflect Coronation Insurance’s unwavering dedication to fostering shared prosperity while ensuring its operations align with global sustainability objectives.

The AGM featured the re-appointment of Mr Abubakar Jimoh and Mrs Stella Ojekwe-Onyejeli as Independent Non-Executive Directors, as well as the approval of the appointment of Mr Victor Etuokwu as a Non-Executive Director on the Board.

 As the Company looks ahead, its leadership expressed optimism about leveraging emerging opportunities in Nigeria’s evolving economic landscape. Coronation Insurance plans to deepen its market penetration, strengthen its digital initiatives, and continue providing innovative insurance solutions tailored to clients’ needs.

“Our ambition is to redefine the insurance experience in Africa,” the chief executive stated, noting, “We remain committed to our mission of addressing Africa’s challenges through transformational solutions and customer-focused innovation.”

Economy

Petrol Supply up 55.4% as Daily Consumption Reaches 52.1 million Litres

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sufficient supply petrol

By Adedapo Adesanya

The supply of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, increased by 55.4 per cent on a month-on-month basis to 71.5 million litres per day in November 2025 from 46 million litres per day in October.

This was contained in the November 2025 fact sheet of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) on Monday.

The data showed that the nation’s consumption also increased by 44.5 per cent or 37.4 million litres to 52.1 million litres per day in November 2025, against 28.9 million litres in October.

The significant increase in petrol supply last month was on account of the imports by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited into the Nigerian market from both the domestic and the international market.

Domestic refineries supplied in the period stood at 17.1 million litres per day, while the average daily consumption of PMS for the month was 52.9 million litres per day.

The NMDPRA noted that no production activities were recorded in all the state-owned refineries, which included Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries, in the period, as the refineries remained shut down.

According to the report, the imports were aimed at building inventory and further guaranteeing supply during the peak demand period.

Other reasons for the increase, according to the NMDPRA, were due to “low supply recorded in September and October 2025, below the national demand threshold; the need for boosting national stock level to meet the peak demand period of end of year festivities, and twelve vessels programmed to discharge into October, which spilled into November.”

On gas, the average daily gas supply climbed to 4.684 billion standard cubic feet per day in November 2025, from the 3.94 bscf/d average processing level recorded in October.

The Nigeria LNG Trains 1-6 also maintained a stable processing output of 3.5 bscf/d in November 2025, but utilisation improved slightly to 73.7 per cent compared with 71.68 per cent in October.

The increase, according to the report, was driven by higher plant utilisation across processing hubs and steady export volumes from the Nigeria LNG plant in Bonny.

“As of November 2025, Nigeria’s major gas processing facilities recorded improved output and utilisation levels, with the Nigeria LNG Trains 1-6 processing 3.50 billion standard cubic feet per day at a utilisation rate of 73.70 per cent.

“Gbaran Ubie Gas Plant processed 1.250 bscf per day, operating at 71.21 per cent utilisation, while the MPNU Bonny River Terminal recorded a throughput of 0.690 bscf per day during the period. Processing activities at the Escravos Gas Plant stood at 0.680 bscf per day, representing a 62 per cent utilisation rate, whereas the Soku Gas Plant emerged as the top performer, processing 0.600 bscf per day at 96.84 per cent utilisation,” it stated.

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Economy

Secure Electronic Technology Suspends Share Reconstruction as Investors Pull Out

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Secure Electronic Technology

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

The proposed share reconstruction of a local gaming firm, Secure Electronic Technology (SET), has been suspended.

The Lagos-based company decided to shelve the exercise after negotiations with potential investors crumbled like a house of cards.

Secure Electronic Technology was earlier in talks with some foreign investors interested in the organisation.

Plans were underway to restructure the shares of the company, which are listed on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited.

However, things did not go as planned as the potential investors pulled out, leaving the board to consider others ways to move the firm forward.

Confirming this development, the company secretary, Ms Irene Attoe, in a statement, said the board would explore other means to keep the company running to deliver value to shareholders.

“This is to notify the NGX and the investing public that a meeting of the board of SET held on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, as scheduled, to consider the status of the proposed share reconstruction and recapitalisation as approved by the members at the Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) held on April 16, 2025.

“After due deliberations, the board wishes to announce that the proposed share reconstruction will not take place as anticipated due to the inability of the parties to reach a convergence on the best and mutually viable terms.

“Thus, following an impasse in the negotiations, and the investors’ withdrawal from the transaction, the board has, in the interest of all members, decided to accept these outcomes and move ahead in the overall interest of the business.

“The board is committed to driving the strategic objectives of SEC and to seeking viable opportunities for sustainable growth of the company,” the disclosure stated.

Business Post reports that the share price of SET crashed by 3.85 per cent on Tuesday on Customs Street on Tuesday to 75 Kobo. Its 52-week high remains N1.33 and its one-year low is 45 Kobo. Today, investors transacted 39,331,958 units.

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Economy

Clea to Streamline Cross-Border Payments for African Importers

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Clea Payment platform

By Adedapo Adesanya

Clea, a blockchain-powered platform that allows African importers to pay international suppliers in USD while settling locally, has officially launched.

During its pilot phase, Clea processed more than $4 million in cross-border transactions, demonstrating strong early demand from businesses navigating the complexities of global trade.

Clea addresses persistent challenges that African importers have long struggled with, including limited FX access, unpredictable exchange rates, high bank charges, fraudulent intermediaries, and payment delays that slow or halt shipments. The continent also faces a trade-finance gap estimated at over $120 billion annually, limiting importers’ ability to access the FX and financial infrastructure needed for timely international payments by offering fast, transparent, and direct USD settlements, completed without intermediaries or banking bottlenecks.

Founded by Mr Sheriff Adedokun, Mr Iyiola Osuagwu, and Mr Sidney Egwuatu, Clea was created from the team’s own experiences dealing with unreliable international payments. The platform currently serves Nigerian importers trading with suppliers in the United States, China, and the UAE, with plans to expand into additional trade corridors.

The platform will allow local payments in Naira with instant access to Dollars as well as instant, same-day, or next-day settlement options and transparent, traceable transactions that reduce fraud risk.

Speaking on the launch, Mr Adedokun said, “Importers face unnecessary stress when payments are delayed or rejected. Clea eliminates that uncertainty by offering reliable, secure, and traceable payments completed in the importer’s own name, strengthening supplier confidence from day one.”

Mr Osuagwu, co-founder & CTO, added, “Our goal is to make global trade feel as seamless as a local transfer. By connecting local currencies to global transactions through blockchain technology, we are removing long-standing barriers that have limited African importers for years.”

According to a statement shared with Business Post, Clea is already working with shipping operators who refer merchants to the platform and is also engaging trade associations and logistics networks in key import hubs. The company remains fully bootstrapped but is open to strategic investors aligned with its mission to build a trusted global payment network for African businesses.

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