By Adedapo Adesanya
Nigeria’s dollar bonds rallied after President Bola Tinubu was officially conferred as the 16th president of Nigeria, a day that he announced plans to scrap the fuel subsidy programme, unify the exchange rate regime, as well as reduce high interest rates.
Bonds with a maturity date of 2047 jumped 3.3 per cent to 66.750 cents on the Dollar.
The debt instrument due in 2049 gained 2.9 per cent, and those maturing in 2051 advanced 3.5 per cent.
The gains came as markets in London and the US reopened following national holidays as well as a day after Mr Tinubu’s speech at his inauguration on Monday.
On fuel subsidy, Mr Tinubu said, “Subsidy can no longer justify its ever-increasing costs in the wake of drying resources. We shall instead re-channel the funds into better investment in public infrastructure, education, health care and jobs that will materially improve the lives of millions.
“We commend the decision of the outgoing administration in phasing out the petrol subsidy regime, which has increasingly favoured the rich more than the poor.”
He said that since there was no provision for subsidy in the budget from July 1, noting that the policy would be removed.
He also planned to bring Nigeria into a unilateral exchange rate regime to help staunch the continued FX crisis that has gripped investors and average Nigerians.
“The Central Bank must work towards a unified exchange rate. This will direct funds away from arbitrage into meaningful investment in the plant, equipment and jobs that power the real economy,” he said.
He also assured both local and foreign investors that his administration would move to reduce the high interest rate that has stymied faith in Nigeria being a destination for good investments.
“Interest rates need to be reduced to increase investment and consumer purchasing in ways that sustain the economy at a higher level,” Mr Tinubu said.
Dipo Olowookere