Economy
FX: Customers to Return Unutilized PTA/BTA Within 2 Weeks
By Dipo Olowookere
Customers who approached commercial banks for the purchase of foreign exchange (FX) at cheaper rates especially for personal travel allowance/business travel allowance (PTA/BTA) would have to return any unutilised forex.
This message was conveyed to forex customers by one of the deposit money banks (DMBs) operating in the country, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc.
In an emailed notice to customers, which was seen by Business Post, the lender said in a situation an international passenger buys $4,000 for PTA or $5,000 (BTA) in a quarter and this was not used probably because the trip was cancelled or the purpose for the purchase was not achieved, the allocation should be returned to the bank within two weeks.
“Customers are required to return purchased PTA/BTA to their bank within two weeks from the date of purchase if not utilized for the intended purpose or if for any reason the scheduled trip is cancelled,” a part of the message noted.
Another part of the disclosure stated that customers can only apply for PTA/BTA once in a quarter and that “requests are limited to a maximum of $4,000 and $5,000 per quarter per applicant respectively.”
The bank further said forex will not be allotted to a third party as it would “only be sold directly to applicants who shall be Nigerians who are 18 years and above and have a valid Bank Verification Number (BVN).”
Furthermore, UBA stressed that FX would only be given to customers for legitimate travel purposes only, advising them to “always have a clear intention and legitimate purpose to travel. You are required to provide a valid Nigerian passport and a valid visa to an international destination.”
It emphasised that only valid travel documents would be processed and accepted and that customers must have a travel ticket “to an international destination outside of West Africa and Cameroon.”
“You are required to provide an international return ticket, with a travel date not more than 14 days from the date of PTA/BTA purchase,” the statement stated.
The bank, however, warned that “False application and use of fake documents to purchase PTA/BTA is strictly prohibited and is a financial crime punishable under the applicable laws in Nigeria.
“Defaulters of this FX policy may face sanctions that include being barred from accessing FX from the official FX market in the future, restrictions on their bank account(s) for such periods as may be determined by CBN (Central Bank of Nigeria) as well as possible criminal prosecution.”
“Please note that UBA is committed to partnering with the CBN to ensure a transparent, efficient and stable FX Market that meets the needs of all legitimate users,” the lender said.
The lender said it was taking this step in line with the CBN’s “policy to improve access to FX for legitimate transactions,” noting that “as our valued customer, you have a role to play to ensure the success and integrity of the policy.”
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The suspension earlier placed on trading in the shares of Zichis Agro-Allied Industries Plc has been lifted by the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Regulations Limited.
The regulatory subsidiary of NGX Group Plc placed an embargo on Zichis stocks after the price went up by nearly 900 per cent within one month of its listing on the NGX Limited in January 2026.
The action was taken to find out if there was any form of manipulation in the price movement of the new firm on Customs Street to protect market integrity.
Zichis was listed on the growth board of the bourse by introduction at a unit price of N1.81, but within a month, its share price rose to N17.36 per unit, indicating an 859.12 per cent surge.
In a notice to the investing community today, the Head of Issuer Regulation Department at NGX, Mr Godstime Iwenekhai, confirmed the lifting of the suspension on Zichis.
“Kindly refer to our market bulletin referenced NGXREG/IRD/MB23/26/02/23 and dated February 23, 2026, titled Notification of Suspension of Trading in the Shares of Zichis Agro-Allied Industries Plc, wherein trading license holders and the investing public were notified of the suspension of trading in the shares of Zichis Agro-Allied Industries Plc, pursuant to Rule 7.0: General, Rules on Suspension of Trading in Listed Securities, Rulebook of The Exchange, 2015 (Issuers’ Rules), as amended.
“Trading licence holders and the investing public are hereby informed that NGX Regulation Limited has concluded its investigation into the trading activities in the company’s shares and has implemented corrective measures to safeguard market integrity in line with its mandate to promote a fair, orderly and efficient market.
“Accordingly, the suspension placed on trading in the shares of Zichis Agro-Allied Industries Plc has been lifted, effective Monday, March 23, 2026,” the notice read.
Business Post reports that the share price of Zichis has been adjusted downward from N17.36 to N8.58 after the suspension was lifted.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery said it has strengthened Nigeria’s presence in the regional energy market with the successful sales of 12 cargoes, by traders, totalling 456,000 tonnes of refined petroleum products.
The shipments by traders, destined for countries such as Cote d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Tanzania, Ghana, and Togo, represent the refinery’s export of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) since achieving 650,000 barrels a day capacity in February, according to a statement by the Refinery.
The products were sold on a FOB (Free on Board) basis to the end international traders for deliveries to the above-identified countries of export.
This accomplishment, the Refinery noted, underscores its capability not only to meet but to exceed Nigeria’s domestic fuel demands.
“It also demonstrates the refinery’s growing role in supplying high-quality Euro 5 gasoline and diesel to West Africa — a region long underserved and historically regarded as a dumping ground for lower-quality fuels, and other regions which have become destinations of exports.
“By supplying neighbouring and other economies, the Dangote Refinery is expected to contribute to enhancing energy security in West, East, and Central Africa, reducing logistics and supply chain delays associated with long-distance fuel imports, lowering cost pressures on regional fuel markets through proximity sourcing, and as well as building stronger trade relations between Nigeria and key African economies”, the statement added.
The sale comes amid widening global worries about fuel supplies as the tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, which serves as the critical chokepoint for roughly 20 per cent of global oil and LNG trade, has slowed sharply amid escalating military activity in the Gulf.
The conflict in the region has sent oil prices above $113 per barrel in recent weeks and has made economies worry about inflationary worries.
President Bola Tinubu expressed concerns over the negative impact the crisis in the Middle East would have on the Nigerian economy, noting that efforts are being made to ensure the citizens, especially the vulnerable, are catered to by the government.
Western economies could release additional volumes of crude from storage should the need arise after it released 400 million barrels of crude from OECD reserves to cushion the blow to oil markets.
By Dipo Olowookere
The Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited operated for only three days last week due to the public holidays observed on Thursday and Friday for Eid al-Fitr.
Data from Customs Street showed that investors transacted 8.761 billion shares worth N267.253 billion in 193,473 deals compared with the 3.321 billion shares valued at N164.845 billion traded in 318,907 deals in the preceding week.
Analysis showed that the ICT sector led the activity chart with 5.330 billion stocks worth N46.825 billion executed in 21,573 deals, contributing 60.84 per cent and 17.52 per cent to the total trading volume and value, respectively.
The financial services industry exchanged 2.765 billion equities for N95.892 billion in 75,103 deals, and the consumer goods space sold 174.484 million shares valued at N20.805 billion in 20,693 deals.
eTranzact, FCMB, and Wema Bank accounted for 6.084 billion shares worth N40.661 billion in 5,570 deals, contributing 69.44 per cent and 15.21 per cent to the total trading volume and value apiece.
Business Post reports that in the week, 48 equities appreciated versus 34 equities in the previous week, 43 stocks depreciated versus 61 stocks in the preceding week, and 57 shares closed flat versus 53 shares of the earlier week.
John Holt topped the advancers’ chart after it chalked up 25.40 per cent to trade at N11.86, BUA Cement expanded by 21.00 per cent to N326.70, Premier Paints rose by 20.62 per cent to N23.40, Zenith Bank went up by 14.64 per cent to N110.00, and Learn Africa appreciated by 13.33 per cent to N9.35.
The laggards’ group was led by Zichis, which shed 50.58 per cent to close at N8.58. Presco went down by 18.37 per cent to N1,701.10, DAAR Communications declined by 13.55 per cent to N1.85, Eterna slipped by 12.77 per cent to N36.90, and Red Star Express crashed by 9.98 per cent to N25.55.
At the close of business, the All-Share Index (ASI) and the market capitalisation appreciated by 1.39 per cent each to 201,156.86 points and N129.126 trillion, respectively.
In the same vein, all other indices finished higher apart from the insurance, AFR Div Yield, consumer goods, energy, Lotus II and commodity indices, which fell by 0.42 per cent, 2.34 per cent, 0.10 per cent, 4.78 per cent, 2.76 per cent and 4.91 per cent apiece, while the sovereign bond index closed flat.
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