Economy
FMDQ Admits FG’s $3.3b Diaspora Bond, Eurobond
By Dipo Olowookere
The $3 billion Eurobond issued by the Debt Management Office (DMO) on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria has been listed on the FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange (FMDQ).
Also, the $300 million 5.625 percent Diaspora Bond due 2022 issued in June 2017 has been listed on the FMDQ platform.
The Eurobond issued by the Nigerian government is in two parts; $1.5 billion 6.500 percent Notes due 2027 and $1.5 billion 7.625 percent Notes due 2047 under its $4.5 billion Global Medium-Term Note Programme Eurobonds.
The papers were listed on FMDQ to promote, among others, visibility for the issues and financial inclusion.
These listings of foreign currency-denominated debt securities by the government, show its unrelenting commitment to supporting the growth and development of the nation’s DCM towards economic development sustainability.
In the first quarter of 2017, FG made history in the nation, when the FRN Eurobond was listed for the first time ever domestically.
Following a series of strategic engagements between the DMO and FMDQ, and other stakeholders on the importance of listing the sovereign’s Eurobonds domestically, the DMO achieved this most significant accomplishment when it listed the $1 billion Eurobond on FMDQ in March 2017.
Less than a year later, the DMO, on behalf of the FRN, is again making history through the issuance and subsequent listing of the FRN Diaspora Bond.
To commemorate these remarkable achievements, the OTC Exchange hosted the Federal Government of Nigeria, represented by the Director-General of the DMO, Ms Patience Oniha, along with key representatives from the DMO to a most impressive and memorable ceremony.
Also present at the Ceremony were key representatives from Stanbic IBTC Capital Limited, the sponsor of the issue and Registration Member (Listings) of FMDQ and representatives from Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Standard Bank of South Africa PLC, FBN Merchant Bank Limited, United Capital PLC, Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie, Banwo & Ighodalo, amongst others.
Welcoming the guests to the ceremony, Ms Tumi Sekoni, Vice President, Business Development of FMDQ, congratulated the issuer and sponsor of the issue on this critical milestone, commending the DMO for another successful outing by the FRN in the international markets.
She highlighted that the FRN, via its Diaspora Bond, provided the opportunity for Nigerians in the international markets (and those in the domestic market with foreign capital) to contribute to the development of the Nigerian DCM and by extension, the economy.
She commented that listing the bonds on FMDQ would rightly position the nation to continue to maximise its potential via the Nigerian DCM. She reiterated FMDQ’s commitment to remain unyielding in its support for the development of the Nigerian DCM through its highly efficient Listings/Quotations service.
Ms Patience Oniha, Director-General of the DMO, during the issuer’s special address, stated that, “the listings will increase number and range of securities available in the domestic capital markets, thereby deepening the market and promoting financial inclusion.
She also stated that, “this history will give more visibility to the domestic debt capital markets, which will be beneficial for attracting capital from local and foreign investors. Furthermore, in the specific case of the Eurobond, because it is a sovereign security, the information it will provide such as coupon, yield and tenor will serve as benchmarks for corporates who intend to issue Eurobonds in the international capital markets.”
Mr Yinka Sanni, Chief Executive Officer, Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC, during his address, said that “by proceeding to list these instruments on the domestic exchanges, the DMO once again has paved the way for corporate and bank issuers to follow suit, thereby adding to the depth and breadth of the domestic capital markets. We thereby applaud the DMO for this initiative.”
The Listing ceremony, in line with FMDQ’s tradition, was marked with memorable highlights which included, amongst other activities, the unveiling of the special symbol and scroll; the signing of the FMDQ Bond Listing Register and presentation of the FMDQ Bond Listing Certificate; and the special autograph impressions by the issuer.
Mr Bola Onadele. Koko, Managing Director/CEO of FMDQ, whilst giving the closing remarks, applauded the issuer for another remarkable job well done.
He commented that, “This is another highly commendable step by the DMO towards deepening the domestic debt capital markets. The DMO continues to set the pace for key development in the Nigerian DCM. The listing of foreign currency-denominated debt securities by the FRN paves the way for the issuance and domestic listing of Nigerian corporate Eurobonds. It also lights up the vision for the issuance of foreign currency-denominated debt locally.”
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Naira appreciated against the US Dollar in the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEX) on Friday, July 17, by N1.35 or 0.07 per cent to N1,380.18/$1 from N1,381.53/$1.
It also improved its value against the Pound Sterling in the same market segment during the session by N11.75 to trade at N1,854.42/£1 compared with the previous day’s N1,866.17/£1, and gained N5.69 against the Euro to sell at N1,576.99/€1 versus Thursday’s closing price of N1,582.68/€1.
In the same vein, the Naira chalked up N1 against the United States currency yesterday at the GTBank forex desk to quote at N1,388/$1, in contrast to the preceding day’s N1,389/$1, but closed flat at the black market at N1,405/$1.
The appreciation of the Nigerian currency on Friday came amid fresh signals that Nigeria is building its external reserves for protection against shocks and excessive currency volatility.
The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Yemi Cardoso, said the country’s gross reserves had risen above approximately $52 billion by 15 July, while net reserves had increased from about $3 billion when the current CBN leadership took office to more than $40 billion.
Mr Cardoso linked the increase in reserves to reforms that had restored greater confidence in the foreign exchange system. He also pointed to efforts to diversify foreign currency inflows, including policies designed to increase remittances through official channels.
He noted that monthly diaspora remittances had risen above $600 million and the CBN expected them to reach approximately $1 billion by the end of 2026. The target is part of a broader effort to grow reserves through recurring inflows rather than temporary measures.
The improvement, he argued, had strengthened Nigeria’s capacity to respond when unexpected events threatened market stability.
The apex bank has also launched a new digital platform that will track every foreign exchange transaction involving Bureau De Change (BDC) operators, marking a major step in its efforts to improve transparency and strengthen oversight of Nigeria’s retail forex market.
As for the crypto market, prices were up as markets overlooked geopolitical developments and macro forces weighing on the whole market ecosystem rather than anything crypto-specific, with Cardano (ADA) up by 4.6 per cent to $0.1661.
Bitcoin (BTC) jumped by 1.8 per cent to $63,968.32, Ethereum (ETH) improved by 0.9 per cent to $1,843.88, Dogecoin (DOGE) also rose by 0.9 per cent to $0.0723, Solana (SOL) soared by 0.6 per cent to $74.90, Ripple (XRP) also appreciated by 0.6 per cent to $1.08, and Binance Coin (BNB) advanced by 0.1 per cent to $567.32.
However, TRON (TRX) depreciated by 0.2 per cent to close at $0.3218, while the US Dollar Tether (USDT) and the US Dollar Coin (USDC) remained unchanged at $1.00 each.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The prices of the crude oil grades rose Friday, as fighting between the US and Iran continued in the Middle East, leading to further attacks in Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Syria.
Brent crude futures advanced by about 4.6 per cent to $88.10 per barrel, while the US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures gained about 4.5 per cent to settle at $82.49 per barrel.
US forces stepped up attacks on Iranian sites, reportedly striking key bridges, railways, and an airport, prompting retaliatory action by Iran.
US Central Command said that it had completed its sixth consecutive night of strikes against Iran, hitting dozens of military targets such as military logistics infrastructure and maritime capabilities.
Centcom said more than 50,000 service members were operating across the Middle East, adding that they “remain vigilant, lethal, and ready.”
Iran said it attacked the US targets in Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Syria in retaliation for the latest round of strikes by the Americans.
Kuwait said Iran attacked a power and water desalination plant as fighting escalated in the Persian Gulf, saying that the attack damaged the facility that sparked a fire that affected a large number of its electricity-generating units, according to The Kuwait Times.
Kuwait is heavily dependent on desalination plants for potable water. Analysts have long feared that Iran would strike infrastructure that is critical to supporting civilian life in the Middle East.
A tanker was hit by a projectile off the coast of Oman, causing minor damage, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre said in an incident report Friday. Iran has repeatedly attacked tankers over the past week as it tries to force civilian ships to transit the Strait of Hormuz through its waters.
The escalating fighting comes as the fragile truce reached last month has collapsed, once again disrupting energy flows through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, which typically handles around 20% of the world’s oil traffic.
Earlier in the week, President Donald Trump said American forces would target Iran’s infrastructure next week unless the two sides reached a diplomatic breakthrough.
Iran has asked Yemen’s Houthis to close the Red Sea oil route if the US targets Iranian power infrastructure.
Market analysts noted that Iran and the US still have strong economic incentives to avoid a complete breakdown in talks, with the US seeking lower oil prices ahead of the November midterm elections and Iran reluctant to forgo economic incentives.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Despite signs that Nigeria’s headline inflation is easing, rising food prices continue to threaten the country’s inflation outlook, the chief executive of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), Mr Muda Yusuf, has warned.
He noted that structural inflationary pressures in the real economy remain pronounced despite improving macroeconomic stability.
In a policy brief released following the inflation report, he noted that headline inflation eased marginally, while month-on-month change moderated from 1.75 per cent to 1.66 per cent, indicating that headline inflation has largely plateaued.
According to him, the dominant concern in the latest inflation report is the renewed acceleration in food inflation.
This growth, he said, suggested that food prices have resumed an upward trajectory after a brief period of moderation.
Warning that a renewed increase in food inflation has significant economic and social implications, he stressed that food inflation remained the biggest driver of Nigeria’s cost-of-living crisis, stressing that rising food prices continue to erode household purchasing power, worsen poverty and food insecurity while weakening the inclusiveness of the current reform programme.
He maintained that sustained moderation in food prices is critical to improving citizens’ welfare and strengthening public confidence in the ongoing economic reforms.
Acknowledging the easing of core inflation as encouraging, he drew attention to the persistence of urban inflation.
At 16.08 per cent, urban inflation exceeded the national headline inflation rate of 15.91 per cent, while month-on-month urban inflation increased from 1.99 per cent to 2.13 per cent.
According to Mr Yusuf, the figures indicated that inflationary pressures remained particularly intense across urban centres.
He attributed the rising urban inflation partly to increasing population displacement from rural communities affected by insecurity, expressing worry that as more households migrate to urban areas, demand for housing, transportation, utilities and other essential services would increase, adding to inflationary pressures and creating additional urbanisation challenges.
Addressing insecurity in farming communities, he said, was important not only for protecting lives and property and boosting agricultural output but also for easing cost pressures in urban centres, adding that the June CPI data reinforced the view that Nigeria’s inflation challenge is predominantly structural rather than monetary.
On the monetary policy outlook, he said the data do not justify further monetary tightening, arguing that headline inflation has largely stabilised.
The CPPE chief expected the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) to retain the current monetary policy rate at its next meeting, adding that the priority is for monetary and fiscal authorities to work together to accelerate structural reforms to expand food supply, improve logistics, reduce energy and production costs, lower debt service costs, as well as strengthen domestic value chains.
