Economy
Lagos Deepens Ease of Doing Business
By Dipo Olowookere
As part of preparations for the Lagos@50 celebrations, the state government has reiterated its commitment to further enhance the ease of doing business in the State through its one-stop-shop (Lagos Global) so as to attract more Foreign Direct Investments as well as increase the its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to the position of the second largest economy in Africa.
Speaking on the activities of Lagos Global, the Special Adviser, Office of Overseas Affairs and Investment, Professor Ademola Abass, expressed the State Governments’ desire to make Lagos the most desirable investment destination in the world through ever increasing ease of doing business which investors are forever seeking.
Going further on the State’s readiness to improve the ease of doing business, the Special Adviser listed World Bank’s index of measuring ease of doing business in the ranking of nations to include ease of starting a business, obtaining construction permits, property registration, tax payment, trading across borders, getting credits and enforcing contracts.
According to Prof Abass, “Governor Akinwumi Ambode has again reaffirmed his commitment at ensuring that Lagos becomes the destination of choice as far as investment is concerned. A number of reforms have been instituted to create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive and for investors, both local and foreign, to realise that the business environment has been greatly enhanced and therefore conducive for businesses to prosper.”
“The various efforts being made by the government are all geared towards enhancing the ease of doing business in the State. Some of these reforms include but not limited to tax reforms, ease of permits application processes, improved land registration system, quicker proposal processing and so many others. These are areas where investors had setbacks in the past that brought about discouragement leading to a reduced presence of investments in the State”, he stated.
Prof Abass further stated that when all of these policies were successfully implemented in Lagos, the State being the commercial hub of Nigeria by its very act will not only attain its mega city status with increased GDP, Nigeria as a whole, stands to benefit with an improved chance to attract more foreign direct investments.
In his words, “To maintain its mega city status, Lagos State now seeks to conduct business in a 21st-century manner, operate seamlessly without the usual bureaucratic bottlenecks that characterized the doing of business in the past”, leading to great discouragement of investors.
“Investment opportunities abound in Lagos, and since it is a known fact that investment thrives best in an environment that is safe and secure, where there are legal and judicial systems to support their interest, Lagos State is poised to engender an enabling environment to ensure a more prosperous Lagos”.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The pre-registration training and examination for capital market operators (CMOs) for the second quarter of 2026 has been postponed.
Business Post gathered that the new date for the exercise is now Monday, June 15, 2026.
This information was disclosed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) through a circular on Monday, June 8, 2026.
The Nigerian capital market regulator stated that this postponement has also resulted in the extension of the deadline for registration to Friday, June 12, 2026.
In the notice today, the SEC expressed its regret for the inconvenience this action may cause operators, who had prepared for the initial date of the training and examination.
“Further to the recent circular on Q2 2026 Pre-registration Training and Examination, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) hereby informs all eligible applicants for the Q2 2026 Pre-registration Training and Examination that the commencement date has been postponed to Monday, June 15, 2026.
“Registration on the designated portal has also been extended to Friday, June 12, 2026. All other conditions contained in the circular remain unchanged.
“The commission regrets any inconvenience this postponement may cause and appreciates the understanding of all applicants,” the disclosure noted.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
One of the leading healthcare firms in Nigeria, Fidson Healthcare Plc, has listed additional shares on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited.
The new stocks absorbed into the stock market were 600 million units, raising the total issued and fully paid-up shares of Fidson to 3,000,000,000 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each from 2,400,000,000 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each.
The fresh equities came from the company’s rights issue of 600,000,000 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each at N35.00 per share.
They were issued to existing investors on the basis of one new ordinary share for every existing four ordinary shares held as of the close of business on Wednesday, November 12, 2025.
Confirming the development, the regulator in a notice said, “Trading licence holders are hereby notified that an additional 600,000,000 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each of Fidson Healthcare Plc were on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, listed on the daily official list of Nigerian Exchange Limited.
“The additional shares arose from the company’s rights issue of 600,000,000 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each at N35.00 per share on the basis of one new ordinary share for every existing four ordinary shares held as at the close of business on Wednesday, November 12, 2025.
“With the listing of the additional 600,000,000 ordinary shares, the total issued and fully paid-up shares of Fidson Healthcare Plc have now increased from 2,400,000,000 to 3,000,000,000 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each.”
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
This news will surely excite local contractors with verified claims of N100 million or less, as the federal government has approved their payments.
This approval for the disbursement was given by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Taiwo Oyedele.
This followed a verification and reconciliation exercise designed to ensure only validated claims qualify for payment.
The beneficiaries cover contractors across multiple ministries, departments and agencies. The release of the funds is expected to enable contractors to return to project sites, pay workers, settle suppliers and meet outstanding financial commitments.
In an announcement on Monday, the Federal Ministry of Finance also said this latest batch of payments would ease liquidity pressure on small businesses and accelerate economic activity nationwide.
It was noted that the payments for verified claims of N100 million below were strategically done to spread economic impact broadly rather than concentrate disbursements among a handful of large firms.
The payments form part of a broader push to clear inherited contractor obligations, with over N700 billion verified in recent months.
“For many beneficiaries, the release of funds represents more than a financial transaction. It provides the certainty needed to sustain operations, preserve jobs, complete ongoing projects, and contribute to economic recovery and growth,” the ministry said in a statement.
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