By Adedapo Adesanya

The Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE) and the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) have called for trade expansion ahead of President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to the United Kingdom.

In separate communications, the organisations urged President Tinubu to deepen economic ties as he visits the UK on the invitation of the King of England, King Charles III. His state visit to the UK next week will mark Nigeria’s first such visit to the UK in 37 years, when Military President Ibrahim Babangida was head of state.

The chief executive of CPPE, Mr Muda Yusuf, said the planned visit by Mr Tinubu to the UK is significant on multiple fronts.

“At a time of shifting global alliances and economic realignments, the visit presents both opportunity and responsibility.

“It is expected that leading Nigerian business figures will accompany the President, creating a platform for expanding trade flows, deepening investment partnerships, promoting Nigeria as a destination for capital, and strengthening financial-sector linkages.

“The UK remains a major source of portfolio flows, development finance, and private-sector investment into Nigeria. Structured engagements during the visit could unlock opportunities in infrastructure, energy, financial services, technology, manufacturing, and agribusiness,” Mr Yusuf stated.

On her part, the Director General of the LCCI, Mrs Chinyere Almona, noted that the visit represents a historic opportunity to recalibrate Nigeria–UK relations from traditional diplomacy to focused economic diplomacy.

“At a time when Nigeria is implementing bold macroeconomic reforms, this visit should be leveraged to secure concrete commitments on trade expansion, long-term investment, and cooperation on the business environment.

“From the perspective of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the overriding objective should be to translate goodwill into measurable economic outcomes that strengthen Nigeria’s productive base and export capacity,” she said.

According to her, recent data underscore the strategic importance of the UK to Nigeria’s economy, noting that in Q3 2025, Nigeria recorded capital importation of approximately US$6.01 billion, representing a significant year-on-year surge.

“Notably, the United Kingdom emerged as Nigeria’s largest source of capital inflows, accounting for about US$2.94 billion, or nearly half of total inflows during the quarter. These inflows were driven predominantly by portfolio investment, particularly into the financial and banking sectors, reflecting renewed foreign investor confidence following Nigeria’s macroeconomic adjustments.

“On the trade front, total trade in goods and services between Nigeria and the UK stood at approximately £8 billion in the 12 months to mid-2025,” she said.

She said, however, that the relationship remains structurally imbalanced, with UK exports to Nigeria significantly exceeding Nigeria’s exports to the UK.

“Ultimately, the economic agenda of this state visit should be guided by Nigeria’s most pressing challenges: export diversification, inflation-induced cost pressures, infrastructure deficits, and the need for stable long-term capital,” Mrs Almona said in an interview with Nairametrics.

By Dipo Olowookere

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has frowned on the use of foreign currencies for financial transactions in Nigeria, saying this could disrupt the nation’s stability.

The acting Zonal Director of the agency in Ilorin, Mrs Victoria Ugo-Ali, informed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) that the EFCC chairman, Mr Ola Olukoyede, is determined to curb the increasing preference for foreign currencies in domestic transactions, describing the practice “as a serious threat to the stability of the nation’s financial system.”

Speaking during a courtesy visit to the Branch Controller of the Ilorin Branch of the central bank, Mr Monga Muhammed, on Tuesday, Mrs Ugo-Ali noted that “many economic and financial crimes are perpetrated through financial institutions,” stressing the importance of timely intelligence and reports on suspicious transactions.

She called on the apex bank to continue providing the commission with relevant financial intelligence that would aid investigations and help curb money laundering and other financial crimes.

She also reiterated that the growing preference for foreign currencies in local transactions undermines the value of the naira and weakens public confidence in the national currency.

In his response, Mr Muhammed commended the Zonal Director and the management team of the EFCC for the visit, promising to sustain and deepen the already cordial relationship between the two organisations.

He described the engagement as the first of its kind and expressed optimism that it would further strengthen the cooperation between both institutions.

“At our end here, we will continue to partner with you because we carry out complementary functions. While your duty is to tackle economic and financial crimes, our responsibility, primarily as the apex bank, is to stabilise the economy and regulate financial institutions. We will not fail in that regard,” he said.

The CBN Branch Controller further disclosed that the apex bank had put several measures in place to address naira abuse and the dollarisation of the economy.

According to him, the CBN has the capacity to track currency in circulation and would not hesitate to apply appropriate sanctions against individuals or organisations found trading illegally in the nation’s currency.

By Adedapo Adesanya

SUNU Assurances Nigeria Plc has taken steps to raise N9.3 billion through a rights issue by offering 2,075,285,714 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each at the price of N4.50.

The new shares would be allotted to shareholders in the ratio of five new ordinary shares for every 14 ordinary shares held as of February 12, 2026.

Proceeds from the exercise would be used by the company to meet the new minimum capital requirements of the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM).

The non-life insurer is preparing to raise fresh equity capital from the capital market to meet the N15 billion minimum capital requirement introduced under the Nigerian Insurance Industry Reform Act (NIIRA) 2025, with a July 2026 compliance deadline.

According to the company’s chairman, Mr Kyari Abba Bukar, the capital plan is a proactive move to strengthen solvency, expand underwriting capacity and maintain competitive positioning in a tightening regulatory environment.

“This is a growth initiative. We are positioning early to meet the new benchmark and enhance our capacity to underwrite larger and more complex risks,” he said.

On his part, the chief executive, Mr Samuel Ogbodu, underscored the company’s dividend track record, noting that SUNU has paid dividends consistently over the past three to four years.

“We have maintained steady growth in premium income, profitability and governance standards over the last decade. Our shareholders have been rewarded, and we project continuity in value delivery,” Mr Ogbodu said.

The SUNU Group, as the majority shareholder with approximately 83 per cent equity interest, has decided to reduce its stake to comply with the free float requirements of the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited. The exchange’s rule book said listed firms must float 20 per cent for the general investing public.

This strategic review of the company’s ownership structure aligns with the group’s long-term growth objectives and its commitment to supporting market development.

He said that while the parent company possesses the financial capacity to fully recapitalise the business, the board has determined that existing shareholders and new Nigerian investors shall be afforded the opportunity to participate in the next phase of the company’s growth.

This decision underscores SUNU’s commitment to broadening Nigerian participation in the ownership structure of the Company, Mr Ogbodu added.