Economy
Nigeria’s Debt to Hit N95trn After Approval of N7.5trn CBN Loan Securitisation
By Adedapo Adesanya
Nigeria’s debt profile will rise to more than N95 trillion as the Senate approved a request from President Bola Tinubu to securitise N7.5 trillion in overdrafts from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to longer-dated bonds that will be added to the country’s debt.
The Senate approved the conversion at a sitting on Saturday, December 30 during which they also endorsed a 2024 budget of N28.77 trillion, which is N1.27 trillion or 4.6 per cent higher than the N27.5 trillion figure proposed initially by Mr Tinubu.
The Debt Management Office (DMO) had said Nigeria’s total public debt as of September 30, 2023, was N87.91 trillion or $114.35 billion.
The DMO, in a statement in December, stated that the amount represented domestic and external debts of the Federal Government, the 36 state governments, and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, explaining that the debt stock represented a marginal increase of 0.61 per cent when compared to the June 30, 2023 figure of N87.38 trillion.
“This trend is explained by the decrease in External Debt from $43.16 Billion as at June 30, 2023, to $41.59 Billion as at September 30, 2023, and a relatively moderate increase of N1.80 trillion in Domestic Debt,” the DMO statement partly read.
“External Debt decreased due to the redemption of a $500 million Eurobond and the payment of USD413.859 million as the first principal repayment of the $3.4 Billion Loan obtained from the International Monetary Fund in 2020 during COVID-19.
“The servicing of these Debts in addition to other Debts, are clear demonstrations of the FGN’s commitment to honouring its debt obligations. Notwithstanding, Mr President’s initiatives and actions towards revenue generation remain important for Nigeria’s overall fiscal balance,” the debt office added.
President Tinubu said the new conversion will reduce the cost of servicing the debt to 9 per cent when compared to the monetary policy rate plus 3 per cent that it currently attracts, and also improve the transparency of liabilities owed to the banking regulator.
“The securitization of the Ways and Means will lead to the realisation of the following benefits among others.
“Reduction of debt service costs as the interest rate for the securitised ways and means is lowered at nine per cent compared to three per cent previously adopted.
“The savings arising from the much lower interest rate will help to reduce the deficit in the budget and improvement in debt transparency as securitised ways and means advances are included in the public debts statistics,” he wrote to the Senate.
Mr Tinubu is following in the footsteps of his predecessor, Mr Muhammadu Buhari, under whose administration in May 2023, lawmakers approved the conversion of N22.7 trillion in loans from the central bank into bonds.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has formally issued an operational licence to an insurance technology (insurtech) company, CBI Partnering Insurtech Limited.
It was the first issued by the regulator in Nigeria, and it is aimed at opening up the sub-sector of the underwriting industry to boost innovation and services.
This development underscores NAICOM’s regulatory leadership in fostering innovation within a structured and consumer-focused insurance ecosystem.
The licence was presented during a formal handover ceremony, where the commission reiterated its commitment to advancing innovation, regulatory reform, and policyholder protection across the insurance sector.
In his remarks, the Deputy Commissioner for Insurance, Finance and Administration, Mr Ekerete Ola Gam-Ikon, highlighted the agency’s ongoing efforts to align Nigeria’s insurance industry with global best practices.
He referenced the recent enactment of the Nigerian Insurance Industry Reform Act (NIIRA) 2025, alongside the Commission’s pioneering insurtech guidelines, as some of the key pillars driving this transformation.
He noted that fostering innovation within a robust and well-governed regulatory framework remains a core strategic priority for the commission.
Mr Ekerete further emphasised that the licence is granted subject to strict compliance with regulatory and ethical standards, reinforcing NAICOM’s dual mandate of enabling innovation while safeguarding policyholders’ interests.
He also pointed to the growing international recognition of Nigeria’s regulatory approach, particularly in leveraging technology to accelerate insurance sector development.
While formally presenting the licence, he stated, “This milestone reflects the commission’s commitment to responsibly nurturing innovation across the insurance value chain.
“We congratulate CBI Partnering Insurtech Ltd and expect full compliance with all applicable regulations. This licence carries an obligation to uphold the highest standards of governance and ethical conduct.
“NAICOM remains committed to supporting the growth of insurtech while protecting the interests of Nigerians.”
In response, the Managing Director of CBI, Mr Suleiman Olalekan Ajani, expressed appreciation to NAICOM for its guidance and rigorous licensing process, stating:
“We are honoured to receive this licence from NAICOM. The Commission’s robust regulatory framework provides the foundation for us to scale strategic partnerships and deliver technology-driven insurance solutions that prioritise consumer trust, transparency, and protection.”
By Adedapo Adesanya
The NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange ended the first trading day of the week on a positive note, with a 0.39 per cent appreciation on Monday, May 25.
The positive vibe raised the market capitalisation of the trading platform by N10.11 billion to N2.571 trillion from last Friday’s N2.561 trillion, and lifted the NASD Unlisted Security Index (NSI) by 16.89 points to 4,298.17 points from the previous 4,281.28 points.
Business Post reports that the bourse recorded three appreciating securities and one depreciating stock at the close of transactions, with the sole price decliner being 11 Plc, which lost N23.43 to sell at N221.10 per share compared with the preceding session’s N244.53 per share.
Central Securities and Clearing System (CSCS) Plc gained N3.78 yesterday to trade at N74.85 per unit versus the previous price of N71.07 per unit, NASD Plc improved its price by N2.86 to N37.36 per share from N34.50 per share, and FrieslandCampina Wamco Nigeria Plc grew by 33 Kobo to N180.00 per unit from N179.67 per unit.
The volume of trades jumped by 153.1 per cent during the session to 59.2 million units from the preceding session’s 590,339 units, but the value of transactions fell by 37.9 per cent to N59.3 million from the N95.3 million achieved last Friday, and the number of deals contracted by 10 per cent to 27 deals from 30 deals.
Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) Plc remained the most active stock by value on a year-to-date basis, with 3.4 billion units traded for N8.4 billion, trailed by Infrastructure Credit Guarantee (Infracredit) Plc with 2.3 billion units sold for N6.5 billion, and CSCS Plc with 61.2 million units exchanged for N4.1 billion.
GNI Plc also closed the trading day as the most traded equity by volume on a year-to-date basis, with 3.4 billion units worth N8.4 billion, followed by Infracredit Plc with 2.3 billion units valued at N6.5 billion, and Resourcery Plc with 1.1 billion units exchanged for N415.7 million.
By Dipo Olowookere
The Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited ended in the green territory on Monday after it chalked up 0.57 per cent on the back of renewed buying interest in financial equities.
The local stock exchange witnessed the insurance and the banking counters closing higher by 0.54 per cent and 0.08 per cent, respectively, amid profit-taking in the others. The energy index shed 1.77 per cent and the consumer goods sector depreciated by 0.26 per cent, while the industrial goods industry was flat.
At the close of business, the All-Share Index (ASI) went up by 1,412.65 points to 251,125.02 points from 249,712.37 points, and the market capitalisation soared by N906 billion to N160.983 trillion from N160.077 trillion.
Investor sentiment was bullish yesterday after Customs Street ended with 35 price gainers and 30 price losers, indicating a positive market breadth index.
Airtel Africa surged 10.00 per cent to N3,655.70, International Energy Insurance advanced by 9.68 per cent to N3.74, Sovereign Trust Insurance went up by 9.65 per cent to N2.50, Caverton rose by 9.63 per cent to N7.40, and VFD Group gained 9.55 per cent to close at N10.90.
Conversely, McNichols lost 10.00 per cent to finish at N7.20, The Initiates dropped 9.91 per cent to trade at N30.45, Learn Africa slipped by 9.69 per cent to N11.65, Zichis crashed by 7.93 per cent to N30.98, and May and Baker declined by 6.60 per cent to N46.70.
During the trading day, market participants transacted 629.4 million shares worth N40.9 billion in 82,434 deals compared with the 711.9 million shares valued at 29.1 billion traded in 62,386 deals last Friday, implying a decline in the trading volume by 11.59 per cent, and a rise in the trading value and number of deals by 40.55 per cent and 32.14 per cent, respectively.
Access Holdings was the busiest equity for the session with a turnover of 61.3 million units valued at N1.5 billion. Zenith Bank traded 37.9 million units worth N5.0 billion, Fidelity Bank sold 35.8 million units for N851.2 million, Japaul exchanged 24.7 million units valued at N90.9 million, and Tantalizers transacted 22.8 million units worth N103.2 million.
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