Economy
DMO to Maintain Current Debt Management Strategy in 2019
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Director General of the Debt Management Office (DMO), Ms Patience Oniha, has said the current debt management strategy would be retained in the coming year.
Ms Oniha made this disclosure during a press conference last Monday in Abuja.
“There is a debt management strategy that determines how we structure our debts and the strategy will run to 2019.
“It’s one to thing to approve the debt but another to implement with an objective in mind.
“This seeks to achieve a debt stock that is prudent and judicious use of the funds.
“We want to borrow as low cost as possible and the debts are sustainable,” the nation’s chief debt manager told newsmen at the briefing.
The DMO boss noted that government had since recognised the need to reduce borrowing and therefore, slowed down the amount being borrowed to finance federal budget.
“Since 2017, the level of borrowings as provided in the annual budget has been reducing.
“In 2017, it was N2.3 trillion, in 2018 it is N1.64 trillion and in the draft budget for 2019 is N1.7 trillion so the governed is mindful of the borrowings,” she said, adding that borrowing is guiding by several laws and so it has to be approved by the National Assembly.
During the briefing, Ms Oniha said her agency has refunded N900 billion owed to domestic creditors by federal government in 2018.
“In total, we have refunded N900 billion into the market that is available for lending to the private sector.
“It has also supported our foreign reserves and has brought down interest rates,” she said.
Speaking further, the DMO chief said based on approvals from executive and legislature, “we raised $3 billion in Eurobonds which we have used to repay some of our domestic debts.
“The Sukuk was used to fund roads construction and we have issued another one which was 133 per cent subscribed.”
She put the total amount of debts inherited from previous administrations about N2.6 trillion out of which N700 billion was related to personnel cost, leaving a balance of N1.9 trillion.
“In this category, there is refund to state governments, oil marketers, major contractors, small contractors etc.
“The government processed all the approvals all the same and the government will issue promissory notes and that means the debt stock will increase.
“But it won’t mean that the present government borrowed all of that N1.9 trillion. So, the public debt figure will go up by N1.9 trillion. “Currently we are working on the debts for oil marketers and refund to state governments,” she noted.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The pre-registration training and examination for capital market operators (CMOs) for the second quarter of 2026 has been postponed.
Business Post gathered that the new date for the exercise is now Monday, June 15, 2026.
This information was disclosed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) through a circular on Monday, June 8, 2026.
The Nigerian capital market regulator stated that this postponement has also resulted in the extension of the deadline for registration to Friday, June 12, 2026.
In the notice today, the SEC expressed its regret for the inconvenience this action may cause operators, who had prepared for the initial date of the training and examination.
“Further to the recent circular on Q2 2026 Pre-registration Training and Examination, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) hereby informs all eligible applicants for the Q2 2026 Pre-registration Training and Examination that the commencement date has been postponed to Monday, June 15, 2026.
“Registration on the designated portal has also been extended to Friday, June 12, 2026. All other conditions contained in the circular remain unchanged.
“The commission regrets any inconvenience this postponement may cause and appreciates the understanding of all applicants,” the disclosure noted.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
One of the leading healthcare firms in Nigeria, Fidson Healthcare Plc, has listed additional shares on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited.
The new stocks absorbed into the stock market were 600 million units, raising the total issued and fully paid-up shares of Fidson to 3,000,000,000 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each from 2,400,000,000 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each.
The fresh equities came from the company’s rights issue of 600,000,000 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each at N35.00 per share.
They were issued to existing investors on the basis of one new ordinary share for every existing four ordinary shares held as of the close of business on Wednesday, November 12, 2025.
Confirming the development, the regulator in a notice said, “Trading licence holders are hereby notified that an additional 600,000,000 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each of Fidson Healthcare Plc were on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, listed on the daily official list of Nigerian Exchange Limited.
“The additional shares arose from the company’s rights issue of 600,000,000 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each at N35.00 per share on the basis of one new ordinary share for every existing four ordinary shares held as at the close of business on Wednesday, November 12, 2025.
“With the listing of the additional 600,000,000 ordinary shares, the total issued and fully paid-up shares of Fidson Healthcare Plc have now increased from 2,400,000,000 to 3,000,000,000 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each.”
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
This news will surely excite local contractors with verified claims of N100 million or less, as the federal government has approved their payments.
This approval for the disbursement was given by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Taiwo Oyedele.
This followed a verification and reconciliation exercise designed to ensure only validated claims qualify for payment.
The beneficiaries cover contractors across multiple ministries, departments and agencies. The release of the funds is expected to enable contractors to return to project sites, pay workers, settle suppliers and meet outstanding financial commitments.
In an announcement on Monday, the Federal Ministry of Finance also said this latest batch of payments would ease liquidity pressure on small businesses and accelerate economic activity nationwide.
It was noted that the payments for verified claims of N100 million below were strategically done to spread economic impact broadly rather than concentrate disbursements among a handful of large firms.
The payments form part of a broader push to clear inherited contractor obligations, with over N700 billion verified in recent months.
“For many beneficiaries, the release of funds represents more than a financial transaction. It provides the certainty needed to sustain operations, preserve jobs, complete ongoing projects, and contribute to economic recovery and growth,” the ministry said in a statement.
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