Economy
Offshore Investors ‘Run Away’ from CBN OMO Auction
By Dipo Olowookere
The hunger earlier shown by offshore investors to the treasury bills issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) through Open Market Operations (OMO) is beginning to wane.
Last year, the apex bank restricted local retail and non-financial institutions from investing in the liquidity management tool, but allowed only foreign portfolio investors to buy.
This was ostensibly done to attract foreign exchange into the country to bolster the nation’s external reserves, which was getting threatened through depletion following reduction in the prices of crude oil at the global market.
While the CBN left the stop rates of its OMO bills at double digits for offshore investors, the rates of the Nigerian Treasury Bills (NTB), which domestic investors were allowed to invest in, were reduced to as low as 2.30 percent as at the last auction on Wednesday, when inflation is reading 12.20 percent.
On Thursday, a day after the treasury bills sale at the primary market, the central bank took N150 billion worth of its OMO bills to the secondary market, but investors practically ran away from the investment tool, avoiding the instrument like the deadly coronavirus.
In fact, the central bank only received subscriptions worth N18 billion and the apex bank consequently declared No Sale at the end of the exercise.
Business Post reports that the CBN had offered the bills across three different maturities; 89-day, 180-day and 362-day at N10 billion, N10 billion and N130 billion respectively.
However, no bid was made for the three-month maturity, while the six-month tenor received N2 billion and the 12-month maturity got a paltry N16 billion. The CBN returned with the bills with its tail tucked firmly between its legs.
A look at the secondary market for treasury bills indicated that yields depreciated yesterday for most maturities monitored during the session on the back of sustained buy pressure.
Only the one-year instrument recorded a growth in yield, rising marginally by 0.05 to 4.50 percent from 4.45 percent.
However, yield on the three-month instrument depreciated by 0.25 percent to 2.65 percent from 2.90 percent, the six-month maturity fell by 0.21 percent to 3.33 percent from 3.54 percent, while the one-month tenor declined by 0.07 percent to 2.41 percent from 2.48 percent.
Consequently, the average yields of the T-bills depreciated by 0.12 percent to 3.22 percent from 3.34 percent.
Meanwhile, inflows from OMO maturities of about N300 billion boosted liquidity at the market and the inability of the CBN to mop up the excess cash yesterday led to the 5.25 percent decline in the average money market rates.
The Open Buy Back (OBB) rate dropped 5.20 percent to 5.20 percent from 10.40 percent, while the Overnight (OVN) rate declined by 5.30 percent to 5.90 percent from 11.20 percent.
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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