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Economy

Reps to Investigate Total Remittances Flows to Nigeria

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House of Reps

By Dipo Olowookere

The House of Representatives has mandated its committees on Diaspora, Banking and Currency, National Planning and Economic Development to investigate the actual amount of remittances made into the country in the last three years by Nigerians living abroad.

At the plenary on Tuesday presided over by Speaker of the House, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, the lower chamber of the National Assembly also directed the committees to collaborate with Nigerians in the Diaspora Commission, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Money Transfer Operators and other stakeholders for a comprehensive report, which should be submitted within four weeks for further legislative action.

This directive followed a point raised by a lawmaker, Ms Tolulope Akande-Sadipe, who called attention of the green part of the parliament on the need to ascertain remittances made by Nigerians in diaspora and the impact on the nation’s economy.

Members of the parliament emphasised that remittances by Nigerians represent household incomes and investments from foreign economies arising mainly from the temporary or permanent movement of people to those economies and includes cash and non-cash items that flow through formal channels such as electronic wire, or through informal channels, such as money or goods carried across borders.

During the debate, it was noted that remittances inflows into the country could rise to $25.5 billion, $29.8 billion and $34.9 billion in 2019, 2021 and 2023 respectively.

It was further argued that over a 15-year period, total remittances flow to Nigeria would grow by almost double in size from $18.4 billion in 2009 to $34.9 billion in 2023.

The lawmakers, concerned that since many transactions are unrecorded or take place through informal channels, stressed that the actual amount of remittance flows into the country was arguably higher; as in 2018, diaspora remittances to Nigeria was equal to $25 billion, representing 6.1 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which also represented 14 percent year-on-year growth from the $22 billion receipts in 2017.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), in report, said that remittances from Nigerians in the diaspora rose from $3.24 billion in 2013 to approximately $25.08 billion in 2018, a rise of 126 percent in 6 years amounting to an estimated $96.5 billion sent to the country.

The World Bank estimated that global remittances grew by 10 percent from $633 billion in 2017 to $689 billion in 2018, with developing countries receiving 77 percent or $528 billion of the total inflows.

In 2018, Egypt and Nigeria accounted for the largest inflows of remittances into Africa, with the latter leading in the continent in terms of remittance receipts in 2017.

According to the United Nations official records, there are 1.24 million migrants from Nigerians in the diaspora and the World Bank Report also showed that the Indian diaspora sent a whopping $79 billion back home in 2018, making the country the world’s top recipient of remittances and at the growth rate of 14 percent in inward remittances.

India has registered significant growth in the flow of remittances over the last 3 years, from $62.7 billion in 2016 to $65.3 billion in 2017, remittances reached the $79 billion mark by 2018.

Nigeria accounts for over a third of migrant remittances flows to Sub-Saharan Africa estimated to have amounted to $23.63 billion in 2018, representing 6.1 percent of the country’s GDP, which translated to 83 percent of the federal government’s budget in 2018 and 11 times the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) flows in the country within the period and was 7 times larger than the $3.4 billion received in 2017 as foreign aid.

Dipo Olowookere is a journalist based in Nigeria that has passion for reporting business news stories. At his leisure time, he watches football and supports 3SC of Ibadan. Mr Olowookere can be reached via [email protected]

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Economy

SEC Postpones Q2 2026 Pre-registration Training, Examination for CMOs

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capital market operators

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.

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Economy

Fidson Lists Additional 600 million Shares on Stock Exchange

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fidson

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.”

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Economy

FG Approves Payments to 1,240 Contractors to Ease Liquidity Pressure

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FG contractors protest

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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