Economy
Nigeria Eyes Brazil’s $94.4bn Export Performance to China
By Adedapo Adesanya
If all the critical stakeholders put their hands on the deck, Nigeria can meet or surpass Brazil’s $94.41 billion export performance to China in 2024 because the country has all it takes to achieve this goal.
This was the view of the Director-General of the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership (NCSP), Mr Joseph Tegbe, when he met with the Minister of State for Industry, Trade, and Investment, Mr John Owan Enoh, to discuss move to accelerate Nigeria’s industrial revolution.
The meeting, which held in Abuja, explored actionable strategies to unlock the full industrial potential of both sectors within the framework of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda with an overarching goal to shift Nigeria from an import-dependent economy to a production- and export-led industrial powerhouse.
Mr Tegbe emphasized that the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership is committed to supporting this transformation, noting the country’s readiness to evolve from a consumption-driven economy into a strategic development partner—particularly with China.
He highlighted the mining sector’s vast potential, with over 40 commercially viable minerals as critical enablers of industrial growth.
The DG emphasized the need to build out local beneficiation, processing, and refining capacity—an agenda supported by clear regulatory reforms and investment incentives rather than continuing the raw export of mineral resources.
The Industrial Revolution Working Groups (IRWG)—a flagship initiative of the Presidential Council on Industrial Revitalization—are already operational, working to resolve regulatory bottlenecks, improve access to infrastructure and financing, and unlock sustainable growth across the mining value chain.
Mr Tegbe said the automotive sector was receiving focused government attention, with policies in place to make Nigeria a regional hub for vehicle assembly and full-scale manufacturing, adding that the Nigeria First Policy has already begun to stimulate demand for domestically assembled vehicles, while boosting investor confidence in the sector.
“There is a strong commitment to the implementation of a structured national automotive policy, aiming to move from basic vehicle assembly to advanced manufacturing that integrates local supply chains and paves the way for electric and energy-efficient mobility,” he said.
Speaking on Nigeria’s comprehensive strategic partnership with China, Mr Tegbe shared updates on landmark agreements secured with major Chinese firms including Huawei, China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), Chilwee Group, and Choice International Group (CIG).
According to him, these companies are bringing advanced technologies, skilled manpower, and capital into Nigeria’s automotive, mining, manufacturing, communication and clean energy sectors—contributing directly to job creation, technology transfer, and industrial innovation.
“These partnerships are not only vital for job creation, but they will also strengthen our technical capabilities, expand industrial output, and accelerate localization of production,” said Mr Tegbe, adding that, “We are changing the narrative—Nigeria must no longer be seen as a mere consumer market; but an active industrial partner.”
In his remarks, Mr Enoh reaffirmed the federal government’s renewed commitment to three priority sectors—Sugar, Cotton-Textile-Garment (CTG), and Automobiles—each backed by active industry councils to drive localized production, stimulate domestic demand, and boost Nigeria’s global industrial competitiveness.
At the center of this shift is the Nigeria First Policy, a landmark presidential directive that mandates all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to prioritize Nigerian-made goods and services in public procurement.
This policy is already restructuring supply chains, catalyzing job creation, and reducing overreliance on imports across key sectors.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The federal government has been asked by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to suspend the implementation of the controversial tax laws.
In a reaction to the tax reform acts, the president of the group, Mr Afam Osigwe (SAN), the suspension of the laws would allow for a proper investigation into allegations of alterations in the gazetted and harmonised copies.
A member of the House of Representatives, Mr Abdussamad Dasuki, alleged that some parts of the laws passed by the parliament were different from the gazetted copy.
To address the issues raised, the NBA said it is “imperative that a comprehensive, open, and transparent investigation be conducted to clarify the circumstances surrounding the enactment of the laws and to restore public confidence in the legislative process.”
“Until these issues are fully examined and resolved, all plans for the implementation of the Tax Reform Acts should be immediately suspended,” the association declared.
It noted that the controversies “raise grave concerns about the integrity, transparency, and credibility of Nigeria’s legislative process.”
“These developments strike at the very heart of constitutional governance and call into question the procedural sanctity that must attend lawmaking in a democratic society,” it noted.
“Legal and policy uncertainty of this magnitude has far-reaching consequences. It unsettles the business environment, erodes investor confidence, and creates unpredictability for individuals, businesses, and institutions required to comply with the law. Such uncertainty is inimical to economic stability and should have no place in a system governed by the rule of law.
“Nigeria’s constitutional democracy demands that laws, especially those with profound economic and social implications, emerge from processes that are transparent, accountable, and beyond reproach. Anything short of this undermines public trust and weakens the foundation upon which lawful governance rests.
“We therefore call on all relevant authorities to act swiftly and responsibly in addressing this controversy, in the overriding interest of constitutional order, economic stability, and the preservation of the rule of law,” the organisation stated.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Demand for hot stocks, including MRS Oil Plc, buoyed the NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange by 0.52 per cent on Tuesday, December 23.
The energy company was one of the three price gainers for the session as it chalked up N19.69 to sell at N216.59 per share versus the previous day’s value of N196.90 per share.
Further, FrieslandCampina Wamco Nigeria Plc gained N2.95 to close at N56.75 per unit versus N53.80 per unit and Golden Capital Plc appreciated by 84 Kobo to N9.29 per share from Monday’s N8.45 per share.
Consequently, the market capitalisation went up by N10.95 billion to N2.125 trillion from N2.125 trillion and the NASD Unlisted Security Index (NSI) rose by 18.31 points to 3,570.37 points from 3,552.06 points.
Yesterday, the NASD bourse recorded a price loser, the Central Securities Clearing System Plc (CSCS), which gave up 17 Kobo to close at N33.70 per unit against the previous trading value of N33.87 per unit.
The volume of securities traded at the session went down by 97.6 per cent to 297,902 units from the previous day’s 12.6 million units, the value of securities decreased by 98.5 per cent to N10.5 million from N713.6 million, and the number of deals remained flat at 32 deals.
By value, Infrastructure Credit Guarantee Company (InfraCredit) Plc ended as the most actively traded stock on a year-to-date basis with 5.8 billion units exchanged for N16.4 billion. This was followed by Okitipupa Plc, which traded 178.9 million units valued at N9.5 billion, and MRS Oil Plc with 36.1 million units worth N4.9 billion.
In terms of volume, also on a year-to-date basis, InfraCredit Plc led the chart with a turnover of 5.8 billion units traded for N16.4 billion. Industrial and General Insurance (IGI) Plc ranked second with 1.2 billion units sold for N420.7 million, while Impresit Bakolori Plc followed with the sale of 536.9 million units valued at N524.9 million.
By Dipo Olowookere
It was another bullish trading session for the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited as it closed higher by 0.59 per cent on Tuesday.
The market further rallied due to continued interest in large and mid-cap stocks on the exchange by investors rebalancing their portfolios for the year-end.
Yesterday, Aluminium Extrusion sustained its upward trajectory after it further appreciated by 9.96 per cent to N14.90, as Austin Laz gained 9.81 per cent to close at N2.91, Custodian Investment improved by 9.69 per cent to N38.50, and First Holdco soared by 9.35 per cent to N50.30.
Conversely, Royal Exchange declined by 7.22 per cent to N1.80, Champion Breweries shrank by 6.57 per cent to N15.65, NASCON lost 5.36 per cent to trade at N105.05, Sovereign Trust Insurance depreciated by 5.28 per cent to N3.77, and Japaul went down by 4.51 per cent to N2.33.
At the close of business, 29 shares ended on the gainers’ table and 27 shares finished on the losers’ log, representing a positive market breadth index and bullish investor sentiment.
This raised the All-Share Index (ASI) by 895.06 points to 153,354.13 points from 152,459.07 points and lifted the market capitalisation by N579 billion to N97.772 trillion from the previous day’s N97.193 trillion.
VFD Group finished the day as the busiest stock after it recorded a turnover of 192.0 million units worth N2.1 billion, GTCO exchanged 63.5 million units valued at N5.6 billion, Access Holdings traded 49.8 million units for N1.0 billion, First Holdco sold 45.8 million units valued at N2.3 billion, and Secure Electronic Technology transacted 38.3 million units worth N28.4 million.
In all, market participants bought and sold 677.4 million units valued at N20.8 billion in 27,589 deals compared with the 451.5 million units worth N13.0 billion traded in 33,327 deals on Monday, showing an improvement in the trading volume and value by 50.03 per cent and 60.00 per cent apiece, and a shortfall in the number of deals by 17.22 per cent.
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