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Economy

FG Appoints 8 Firms to Monitor States’ Finances

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FG wage bills

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

Eight renowned and respected audit firms have been appointed by the Federal Government to monitor and evaluate the implementation of the 22-point Fiscal Sustainability Plan which specified the conditions under which 35 state governments in June 2016 accessed the N510 billion Budget Support Facility.

A statement issued on Tuesday by the Finance Ministry’s Director of Information, Mr Salisu Danbatta, disclosed that accounting companies mandated to do the monitoring are PWC, KPMG, Ernst & Young, PKF, Muhtari Dangana & Co/S.S. Afemikhe & Co, Ahmed Zakari and Co/Ijewere & Co.

Mr Danbatta noted that while monitoring of the states by the Federal Ministry of Finance had been ongoing since June 2016, independent monitoring and verification of the states against agreed milestones will now commence by the eight accounting firms.

It was emphasised that the firms will vigorously monitor, evaluate and verify the performance of the states against the agreed milestones set by each State Government under the Fiscal Sustainability Plan and any state found wanting would be taken off the facility with immediate effect.

The Budget Support Facility, a 12-month standby loan facility, was designed to bring immediate financial relief to state governments and enable them meet their financial obligations; with a monthly amount of N50 billion in the first three months and N40 Billion available for the remaining nine months to the 35 states.

The Fiscal Sustainability Plan is a 22-point reform programme which commenced in June, 2016 with requirements including increasing internally generated revenues, introduction of biometric payroll, publication of audited annual financial statements, and reduction of wastages by establishing efficiency units.

Modupe Gbadeyanka is a fast-rising journalist with Business Post Nigeria. Her passion for journalism is amazing. She is willing to learn more with a view to becoming one of the best pen-pushers in Nigeria. Her role models are the duo of CNN's Richard Quest and Christiane Amanpour.

Economy

Dangote Refinery Confirms Retaining ex‑Depot Price at N1,275

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Fifth Crude Cargo Dangote Refinery

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

The management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited has revealed that the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) remains at N1,275 per litre.

Earlier on Wednesday, there were reports that the company increased its ex‑depot price by N75, some hours after renewed hostilities in the Middle East.

On Monday evening, it was reported that Iran fired missiles at its neighbours in the Gulf region after the United States seized two Iranian-linked vessels on the Strait of Hormuz.

These actions briefly raised the price of crude oil on the global market to over $115 per barrel, but it quickly eased to almost $100 per barrel on Wednesday.

Shortly after it was reported that Dangote Refinery had pushed its PMS gantry price to N1,350 per litre, the price was reversed.

Confirming this in a statement made available to Business Post, Dangote Refinery said it is sustaining its current prices to reaffirm “its commitment to supporting stability in the domestic energy market and cushioning the wider economy against external shocks.”

“By absorbing prevailing cost pressures, the refinery continues to help moderate inflationary risks, promote energy affordability, and ensure uninterrupted supply amid ongoing global uncertainties,” another part of the statement read.

The private refiner “reaffirmed its dedication to the steady supply of high‑quality petroleum products to the Nigerian market, while supporting national objectives of price stability and energy security.”

It urged the public “to rely solely on official statements from Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited for accurate and up‑to‑date information on its operations and pricing.”

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Economy

Confusion as Dangote Refinery Reverses ex-Depot Petrol After N75 Hike

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dangote refinery trucks

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

Dangote Refinery has reversed a N75 ex-depot price increase of premium motor spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, on Wednesday.

On Wednesday, the private crude oil refinery raised the price of the product to N1,350 per litre, but this was quickly reversed to N1,275 per litre.

The company had carried out a second increment in less than two weeks, amid renewed attacks in the Middle East, though the crude oil price went down on Tuesday to $109 per barrel.

According to a report by pricing platform Petroleumprice.ng, the upward price adjustment was suspended shortly after it was raised, restoring the previous pricing structure at the loading gantry and easing immediate concerns among downstream marketers.

Industry operators say the move has helped calm nerves across the market, where traders had already begun repositioning on expectations of a higher pricing cycle.

Before the previous price hike, the gantry price was N1,200 per litre, but the organisation pushed it higher by N75.

As of the time of filing this report, Business Post observed that Brent crude futures were traded at $101.00 per barrel, while the US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were sold for $93.01 per barrel.

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Economy

Unlisted Stocks Gain 0.85% as FrieslandCampina, NASD, Two Others Rally

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unlisted stocks Nigeria

By Adedapo Adesanya

Four securities lifted the NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange by 0.85 per cent on Tuesday, May 5, with the market capitalisation growing by N20.52 billion to N2.429 trillion from N2.409 trillion, and the Unlisted Security Index (NSI) advancing by 34.30 points to 4,060.94 points from 4,026.64 points.

Yesterday, FrieslandCampina Wamco Nigeria Plc, the parent company of popular milk brands like Peak Milk and Three Crowns, appreciated by N8.72 to N106.90 per share from N98.14 per share, NASD Plc increased its value by N6.13 to N37.36 per unit from N31.23 per unit, Lagos Building Investment Company (LBIC) Plc gained 35 Kobo to close at N3.82 per share versus N3.47 per share, and Geo-Fluids Plc jumped by 10 Kobo to N3.10 per unit versus N3.00 per unit.

However, the price of Food Concepts Plc, which has the popular Chicken Republic under its belt, lost  5 Kobo during the session to trade at N2.36 per share versus N2.41 per share.

The volume of securities traded fell by 9.5 per cent to 679,768 units from 751,518 units, and the value of securities dropped 12.6 per cent to N30.9 million from N35.4 million, while the number of deals surged by 41.9 per cent to 44 deals from 31 deals.

Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) Plc remained the most traded stock by value on a year-to-date basis with 3.4 billion units transacted for N8.4 billion, followed by CSCS Plc with 60.3 million units traded for N4.1 billion, and Okitipupa Plc with 27.8 million units valued at N1.9 billion.

GNI Plc also closed the day as the most traded stock by volume on a year-to-date basis with 3.4 billion units sold for N8.4 billion, trailed by Resourcery Plc with 1.1 billion units worth N415.7 million, and Infrastructure Guarantee Credit Plc with 400 million units exchanged for N1.2 billion.

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