Economy
FG has Implemented 150 Ease of Doing Business Reforms—Minister
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
More than 150 ease of doing business reforms have been implemented by the federal government, the Minister of Information and Culture, Mr Lai Mohammed, has claimed.
He said one of the reforms include the signing of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2020 (CAMA 2020) by President Muhammadu Buhari, which introduced at least 15 new provisions that promote ease of doing business and reduce regulatory hurdles in Nigeria.
Mr Mohammed, while speaking during a visit to the IshK Tolaram Foundation in Lagos on Monday, stated that these reforms were the brainchild of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC).
According to him, the initiatives of the government have helped to move the country up 39 places on the now-rested World Bank Doing Business index since 2016.
“To understand the significance of Nigeria moving up in the World Bank Doing Business Index, we have to recall that between 2007 and 2015, Nigeria lost 64 places in the World Bank ease of doing business ranking,’” he said
The Minister further stated that as a result of the reforms, the 2018 Subnational Doing Business report on Nigeria recorded unprecedented improvement, and the World Economic Forum (WEF), in its 2018 Global Competitive Report, recognised Nigeria’s business environment as one of the most entrepreneurial in the world, and highlighted Nigeria’s improved competitiveness in the enabling business environment.
Mr Mohammed said PEBEC also collaborated with the National Assembly on the Secured Transaction in Movable Asset Act (STMA), 2017 and the Credit Reporting Act, 2017, which provides a legal framework for collateralisation of moveable assets with the creation of the National Collateral Registry, while CRA 2017 enhances credit reporting in Nigeria.
“The Creation of a National Collateral Registry (NCR) of movable assets by the Central Bank of Nigeria, with the support of the International Financial Corporation (IFC), in May 2016 ensures that functional equivalents of collaterals can be registered. To date, over N1 trillion assets have been uploaded on the Registry,” he said.
Other reforms listed by the Minister include visa on arrival for business people, reduction in the time it takes to register a company at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) – through the Company Registration Portal (CRP) – from about two weeks to just a few days – and the introduction of the electronic filing and payment of federal taxes.
Mr Mohammed commended the IshK Tolaram Foundation for its programmes in Nigeria, especially in the areas of healthcare as well as entrepreneurial and vocational training, saying the artificial limbs provided free of charge has inspired hope for the beneficiaries.
“I am reliably informed that the Foundation, through its IshK Limb Centres in Lagos and Port Harcourt, and mobile camps, has provided more than 19,000 free prosthetic limbs. I am also aware that 242 students have graduated from the foundation’s vocational skills training programme while 157 have started earning their livelihood through jobs and start-ups. This is quite impressive and I congratulate the IshK Foundation for this feat,” he said.
The Programme Director of ISHK Foundation, Ms Neha Mehra, who conducted the Minister round the Lagos centre, said the foundation, which is funded with 25 per cent of the profit from the Tolaram Group, was set up as the next step in a 100-year history of philanthropy at Tolaram.
She said the foundation partners with churches, mosques, hospitals and NGOs to identify and support people requiring artificial limbs free of charge.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
Analysts at Coronation Research have said the inflation rate in Nigeria would be at 15.95 per cent on a year-on-year basis in April 2026 as a result of the “energy price shock stemming from the continued conflict in the Middle East, seasonal issues in regard to food prices and relative exchange rate stability.”
In a note sighted by Business Post on Friday, the research arm of the organisation further disclosed that the average price of goods and services for the month under review should rise by 2.35 per cent on a month-on-month basis versus 4.18 per cent in March 2026, reflecting continued food price firmness, offset by a cooling in the monthly inflation momentum as the March energy price shock partially unwinds.
It said the projected 2.35 per cent inflation rate signals a return toward the underlying disinflation trajectory and could be a pivotal data point in shaping Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) deliberations at the next policy meeting.
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) is expected to release inflation numbers for last month later today. In March 2026, the rate soared by 15.38 per cent, triggered by the war in Iran waged by the United States.
Food inflation rate in March stood at 14.31 per cent on a year-on-year basis versus 25.22 per cent in the same month of last year, but on a month-on-month basis, it slowed to 4.17 per cent from the 4.69 per cent achieved in February 2026.
This was attributed to the rate of change in the average prices of Yam, Ginger (Fresh), Cassava Tuber, Groundnuts (Shelled), Irish Potatoes, Avenger (Ogbono/Apon) – Dried Ungrinded, Tomatoes (fresh), Cassava Flour sold loose, etc, according to the stats office.
In their report, Coronation Research expects food inflation to further ease, as food and non-alcoholic beverages remain the dominant contributor to headline CPI, accounting for about 40 per cent of the CPI basket.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange further depreciated by 0.33 per cent on Wednesday, May 14, with the Unlisted Security Index (NSI) down by 13.76 points to 4,130.21 points from the previous day’s 4,143.97 points, and the market capitalisation dropping N8.23 billion to close at N2.471 trillion compared with Wednesday’s N2.479 trillion.
The unlisted securities market ended yesterday’s session with four price losers and one price gainer, led by Food Concepts Plc, which chalked up 9 Kobo to sell at N2.35 per unit, in contrast to midweek’s closing price of N2.26 per unit.
On the flip side, FrieslandCampina Wamco Plc depreciated by N1.58 to quote at N144.76 per share versus N146.34 per share, Central Securities and Clearing System (CSCS) Plc crumbled by N1.00 to trade at N71.00 per unit versus N72.00 per unit, First Trust Mortgage Bank Plc slid by 25 Kobo to N2.27 per share from N2.52 per share, and UBN Property Plc declined by 21 Kobo to N2.04 per unit from N2.25 per unit.
During the trading day, the volume of securities traded decreased by 70.2 per cent to 417,349 units from 1.4 million units, the value of securities dropped 36.9 per cent to N23.2 million from N36.8 million, and the number of deals stumbled by 13.9 per cent to 31 deals from 36 deals.
At the close of trades, Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) Plc remained the most active stock by value on a year-to-date basis, with 3.4 billion units valued at N8.4 billion, followed by CSCS Plc with 60.7 million units exchanged for N4.1 billion, and Okitipupa Plc with 27.9 million units traded for N1.9 billion.
GNI Plc was also the most active stock by volume on a year-to-date basis, with 3.4 billion units worth N8.4 billion, followed by Resourcery Plc with 1.1 billion units sold for N415.7 million, and Infrastructure Guarantee Credit Plc with 400 million units sold for N1.2 billion.
Economy
Mobile-First Platforms Like DeFi Hash Reflect Growing Investor Interest in AI-Driven Cloud Infrastructure and Automated Digital Asset Engagement
As the cryptocurrency market enters a new phase of global growth, investor behavior is moving beyond the “buy and hold” strategy common in previous cryptocurrency cycles. Across the digital asset industry, a growing number of users are exploring AI-driven cloud infrastructure, automated computing systems, and mobile-based digital engagement models.
Industry analysts say the convergence of AI and blockchain infrastructure is becoming one of the defining trends of 2026.
With the accelerating global demand for AI computing resources, technology companies around the world are investing heavily in cloud infrastructure, data centers, and intelligent automation systems. Meanwhile, blockchain-based infrastructure platforms are increasingly positioning themselves at the intersection of decentralized finance, cloud computing, and AI-driven resource management.
Among the many emerging platforms, DeFi Hash is attracting significant attention. DeFi Hash is a mobile-centric digital infrastructure platform focused on intelligent cloud computing services and automated infrastructure engagement.
The Transition to AI-Driven Digital Infrastructure
For years, many cryptocurrency investors have relied primarily on market appreciation and speculative trading opportunities. However, the evolving market environment and the rapid development of artificial intelligence are prompting a shift towards infrastructure-centric platforms that offer alternative participation models.
Users no longer need to purchase expensive mining hardware or manage physical systems; instead, they are increasingly seeking simplified, mobile-accessible solutions for remote participation in digital infrastructure.
DeFi Hash states that its platform aims to lower traditional barriers to entry by combining cloud architecture, automation, and distributed infrastructure systems to create a seamless user experience. These platforms are accessible via mobile devices and web platforms.
According to company information, the platform has attracted over 3.5 million registered users globally.
Flexible Participation Options
To encourage new user onboarding and streamline the access process, DeFi Hash offers various infrastructure participation models and cloud-based automated contracts.
The company states that new registered users receive promotional rewards upon registration and can participate in an entry-level program designed for short-term participation.
The platform also offers various infrastructure contract categories designed to meet the needs of different participation levels.
Stable Return Contracts
Contract Range: $500 – $2,600
Estimated Daily Return: $6.25 – $36.40
Contract Duration: 7 – 15 days
Estimated Total Return: $43 – $546
Professional Profit Contracts
Contract Range: $5,000 – $15,000
Estimated Daily Return: $77.50 – $270
Contract Duration: 20 – 25 days
Estimated Total Return: $1,550 – $6,750
Advanced Long-Term Profit Contracts
Contract Range: $30,000 – $150,000
Estimated Daily Return: $570 – $3,750
Contract Duration: 30 – 45 days
Estimated Total Return: $17,100 – $168,750
The company states that users can choose one or more participation options based on their own strategies and goals.
The convergence of artificial intelligence and blockchain is expected to accelerate.
Industry insiders believe that the integration of artificial intelligence infrastructure and blockchain-based computing networks may become one of the most influential technological developments in the coming years.
With the global proliferation of artificial intelligence, the demand for scalable computing resources and automated digital infrastructure services is expected to continue to grow. Platforms integrating blockchain, cloud computing, and intelligent automation technologies will play an increasingly important role in shaping the future digital economy.
DeFi Hash states that its goal is to make cloud projects more accessible to ordinary users worldwide while continuously expanding its AI-driven infrastructure ecosystem.
For more information, please visit the company website or mobile app download page.
Official Website: https://defihash.com/
Mobile App Download: https://defihash.com/download/
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