Economy
How to Make More Money Investing in Commercial Papers
By FSDH Research
As most savvy investors will tell you, it is important to put your money to work in order to grow your wealth.
In this report, we will show you how you can achieve this goal through investing in Commercial Papers (CPs).
If you have ever bought an item from a discount shop, then you have a basic understanding of how you can invest in a commercial paper to grow your wealth.
Investing in a CP may be likened to buying items from a discount shop or buying items that are on sale in a supermarket. Usually, a discount shop gives you an opportunity to pay a price that is lower than the price tag on the item.
For instance, if the price tag on a perfume is N20 but the shop places a 10% discount (i.e. N2) on the perfume, it means that you will pay N18 (i.e. N20 less N2) for it.
The only difference between this simple calculation and a case of CP investment is that you must take into account the number of days the investment will run, so as to determine the actual discount you will receive on the investment.
So, when you invest in a CP, you pay an amount that is lower than the amount you will receive on the day the investment is ripe for harvest (matures).
CPs are notes of promise that large companies use to borrow money from people or companies. The company issuing the CP usually borrows the money for a short period of time, always less than one year. CPs are issued in tenors ranging between a minimum of 15 days and a maximum of 270 days.
Companies typically use the money they borrow to finance their operations in order to generate more income.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regulates the CP market in Nigeria. The primary duty of SEC in Nigeria is to formulate rules and guidelines that protect investors’ interests and ensure orderly development of the investment market.
Usually, the investment window in CPs opens for a short period of time – in most cases, one week. The issuing company determines the minimum amount that investors can invest, which is typically N5 million but may be lower in some cases.
Investment in CPs is similar to investment in Nigerian Treasury Bills (NTBs) in that both instruments are discounted instruments.
However, the main difference is that while NTBs are used by the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) to borrow money, CPs are used for the same purpose by companies.
FSDH Research notes, however, that despite being relatively low-risk because of their short maturity period, the risks inherent in investing in CPs are still higher than the risks inherent in investing in NTBs.
FSDH Research believes that a number of companies may issue CPs this year to raise funds to finance their operations, as against using Bonds to raise long-term funds.
This is based on our view that interest rates will increase because of an expected increase in the inflation rate.
This will create more investment opportunities for investors in the CP market, especially given that the yields on CPs are usually higher than those on NTBs.
In addition to higher yields, another advantage of CPs is that the income investors earn from them is not subject to taxes.
This is an incentive from the FGN to encourage the development of the CP market in Nigeria. Investment banks or investment management companies regularly introduce available CPs in the market to their clients whenever the offer is open for subscription. The FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange provides a platform for trading in CPs in Nigeria.
As such, CP investments are relatively liquid as they can be traded in the secondary market if investors wish to sell before maturity.
Now that you have a full understanding of the potential of CPs for wealth creation, we know you would not want to miss any opportunity to invest in CPs.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Nigerian businessman and chief executive of Dangote Industries Limited, Mr Aliko Dangote, has unveiled plans for a new phase of investments and acquisitions as the conglomerate pushes towards its target of generating $100 billion in annual revenue by 2030.
Mr Dangote disclosed this while receiving a delegation of senior executives from global investment banking and financial services firm Goldman Sachs, led by co-chief executive of Goldman Sachs International and Global Co-Head of Investment Banking, Mr Anthony Gutman, during a tour of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals and Dangote Fertiliser Limited complex in Lagos.
Speaking after the visit, Mr Dangote said the refinery and associated industrial facilities underscore the transformative impact of long-term investment in Africa, stressing that the group’s ambitions extend beyond its current strategic plan.
“No matter how we try to explain what we have built, you cannot fully appreciate it until you see it. But this is only the beginning. We need to look beyond 2030.
“The next phase of our journey will include new investments and acquisitions as we continue to scale the business,” he said.
He added that detailed internal modelling had reinforced management’s confidence that the Group’s target of generating $100 billion in annual revenue by 2030 was achievable.
According to him, the projections were based on conservative assumptions and had strengthened the company’s conviction to pursue an even more ambitious long-term growth strategy.
Mr Dangote also revealed that the strong participation of employees in the refinery’s recent private placement reflected growing internal confidence in the company’s long-term strategy and future prospects.
The Goldman Sachs delegation, after an extensive tour of the 700,000 barrels-per-day refinery, described the project as an extraordinary achievement.
“It is extraordinary what Mr Dangote and the whole organisation have achieved. The ambition, the scale of the project, the quality of the project and the culture of the people is very impressive,” the executives said.
According to a statement issued by Dangote Group on Friday, the delegation was led by Mr Anthony Gutman and included Mr Adib N. Zouein, Co-Head of EMEA Emerging Markets Regional Sales and Head of the Middle East and North Africa region for Global Banking & Markets Public; Mr Ryad Yousuf, Global Head of FICC Sales Strats and Structuring; and Mr Jimi Adesanya, Head of Sub-Saharan Africa Sales (excluding South Africa).
The visitors were received by Dangote; Group Vice President, Oil & Gas, Mr Devakumar Edwin; Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals, Mr David Bird; Group Executive Director, Oil & Gas, Ms Fatima Aliko Dangote; Chief of Staff to the President/CEO, Ibrahim Dikko; Group Chief Branding and Communication Officer, Mr Anthony Chiejina; Group Chief Economist, Mr Hassan Mahmud; Group Chief Strategy Officer, Mr Aliyu Suleiman; and Head of Administration, Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals, Mr Musa Bala, among other senior executives.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Senate Public Accounts Committee has heard that Nigeria spent N1.16 trillion on fuel subsidy in 2021, while N1.20 trillion was deducted from federation crude oil sales proceeds during the same period.
The disclosure came from the Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Mr Mohammed Bello Shehu, during the committee’s ongoing investigation into the 2021 to 2023 Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) audit reports on the oil and gas sector.
According to the commission, crude and petroleum product losses cost N16.2 billion, pipeline repairs accounted for N22.05 billion, while strategic stock holding attracted N6.75 billion.
The revelations come against the backdrop of Nigeria’s long-running fuel subsidy regime, which successive governments maintained to keep the pump price of petrol artificially low despite mounting fiscal pressures.
Over the years, subsidy payments consumed trillions of Naira, significantly reducing revenues available to the three tiers of government and contributing to widening budget deficits.
The issue reached a turning point in May 2023 when President Bola Tinubu announced the removal of fuel subsidy during his inauguration speech, declaring that “fuel subsidy is gone.” The decision followed years of concerns over the rising cost of the programme, allegations of fraud, and repeated recommendations by fiscal authorities and international financial institutions that the subsidy had become unsustainable.
The removal triggered a sharp increase in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol), leading to higher transportation and living costs across the country. In response, the federal government introduced a series of palliative measures, including cash transfers, support for mass transit, and wage-related interventions, while arguing that savings from the subsidy would be redirected to infrastructure, education, healthcare, and other critical sectors of the economy.
The commission also argued that the current method of calculating the 13 per cent derivation fund undermines the constitutional intention of the policy.
Meanwhile, the committee stood down the Niger Delta Development Commission’s presentation until next Wednesday to allow lawmakers review its submission.
The committee also expressed displeasure over the absence of the Auditor-General of the Federation, warning that he must appear before lawmakers next Tuesday or face compulsory appearance through the constitutional powers of the National Assembly.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Businesses in the country expect the Naira to gradually appreciate against the US Dollar between now and January 2027, according to the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) July 2026 Business Expectations Survey Report released on Thursday.
The report showed that the Business Confidence Index (BCI) remained positive throughout the review period despite perceived macroeconomic challenges. It noted that all sectors expressed optimism about the economy, with the electricity, gas and water sector posting the highest Business Confidence Index of 59.4 points and the strongest expansion prospects for August 2026.
According to the report, “In July 2026, the Business Confidence Index was 5.7 points, reflecting continued optimistic sentiment among formal businesses.”
It attributed the positive sentiment mainly to increased demand (22.3 per cent), economic diversification (21.4 per cent), and improved access to finance (15.0 per cent). However, respondents identified inflation (27.7 per cent), energy-related challenges (23.4 per cent), insecurity (22.4 per cent), and heightened geopolitical uncertainties (16.5 per cent) as the major factors weighing on business confidence.
On the outlook by broad sector, the central bank said confidence remained positive across all sectors in July. The Industry sector recorded a modest improvement, with its index rising to 11.5 points from 10.5 points, while the Services sector increased to 3.6 points from 2.9 points.
By contrast, the Agriculture sector recorded a significant moderation, with its index falling to 3.4 points from 12.2 points.
Despite this, the apex bank said the six-month outlook remained upbeat, with confidence indices across all sectors indicating positive expectations over the review period.
On the macroeconomic outlook by region, the report noted a divergence in sentiment, with businesses in Northern Nigeria expressing stronger confidence than their Southern counterparts in July. Nevertheless, respondents across all regions maintained positive expectations for August.
