Economy
Russia Ready to Supply Food, Fertilizers Abroad to Ease Rising Prices—Matviyenko
By Kestér Kenn Klomegâh
Concretely aiming at strengthening further mutual bilateral parliamentary relations, Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko headed a delegation of Russian senators on a reciprocal visit from May 30 – June 01 to Maputo, Mozambique. The Chairman of the Federation Council delivered speeches to the deputies of the Assembly of the Republic of Mozambique and had a separate meeting with the Russia-Mozambique Parliamentary Friendship League.
Since the Soviet times and at all stages of history, Russia and Mozambique have been seen as “reliable and time-tested” partners in Africa. “Russia has always provided assistance to Mozambique and it keeps doing so. We are pleased to see your success in economic and social development. We note with satisfaction the steady development of the political dialogue,” Matviyenko said at a meeting with the Speaker of Mozambique Assembly Esperança Bias.
While talking about the Russia-Ukraine crisis, she reiterated that Russia is ready for signing agreements to establish peace with Ukraine. “Its key term was that Ukraine would remain an off-bloc, neutral state, like Austria for example, that it would be a non-nuclear state. Ukraine advanced its own conditions. But, regrettably, those who exercise external control did not let sign this agreement,” she added.
In spite of rising prices for agricultural products, Russia is ready to supply food and fertilizers abroad, but sanctions hampered these, according to Matviyenko, explaining that due to the factor of logistics Russia is unable to supply agricultural fertilizers on time and make full delivery. “The logistics are broken. Russia is unable to supply agricultural fertilizers to countries in need on time and in full. We are ready to fulfil our duties, but the imposed restrictions hinder us from doing it. Russia is still ready to supply food, wheat, and other types of food, but it is impossible to enter ports and so on,” she said.
Further during the conversation, a number of issues relating to the bilateral cooperation in the international arena, the most significant projects of Russian-Mozambique cooperation and the role of parliaments in their implementation were touched upon. A number of topics on the African agenda that are important for the two countries were also discussed.
She expressed satisfaction with the dynamic development of inter-parliamentary relations, the legal basis of which was the protocol on the development of inter-parliamentary cooperation between the Federation Council and the Assembly of the Republic of Mozambique.
“Today, we will take a new important step towards strengthening the legal framework and sign a full-fledged Agreement on inter-parliamentary cooperation between the Federation Council and the Assembly of the Republic of Mozambique that meets modern realities. This will allow us to bring our inter-parliamentary contacts to a higher level, and open up broad prospects for the exchange of experience in legislative activity,” Matviyenko emphasized.
According to the Federation Council Speaker, it is necessary to expand the scope and forms of cooperation between the legislators of the two countries and suggested establishing direct contacts between the relevant committees of the parliaments of Russia and Mozambique. For this purpose, the legislators proposed the possibility of improving the legal framework of bilateral relations.
The meeting thoroughly examined aspects of legislative activity within the context of combating terrorism and laundering of illegally acquired capital, as well as cooperation in trade, economic and investment fields with the conviction that not only large but also medium and small enterprises have good opportunities to strengthen economic ties.
The topic of digital transformation and the introduction of new technologies were touched upon. “We are ready to work together with our Mozambican colleagues to exchange experience in these and other areas of the digital agenda,” said Matviyenko.
The Speaker invited the Chairman of the Assembly of the Republic of Mozambique to participate in the upcoming International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg. As part of the visit, a ceremony was also held to hand over Russian charitable assistance to Mozambican children. This is children’s sports uniform, items for creative work and sweet gifts – as the future of both countries depend on investments in children’s education and upbringing.
The Russian delegation comprises Konstantin Kosachev, Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation; Grigory Karasin, Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs; Andrey Kutepov, Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Economic Policy and Andrey Shevchenko, Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Federal Structure, Regional Policy, Local Government and Northern Affairs.
The rest are Alexander Varfolomeev, First Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Social Policy; Irina Rukavishnikova, First Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Constitutional Legislation and State Building; Yuri Valyaev, Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Defence and Security; Mukarby Ulbashev, Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on the Budget and Financial Markets; and Liudmila Skakovskaya, Member of the Federation Council Committee on Science, Education and Culture.
After the bilateral talks saw the signing of a communique between the Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Agreement between the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation and the Assembly of the Republic of Mozambique. This document will lay the foundation for long-term inter-parliamentary cooperation, promote mutually beneficial ties, and develop the entire range of bilateral relations. The agreement also reflects plans for the future development of inter-parliamentary contacts.
According to Esperança Bias, it is gratifying to realize that bilateral relations are developing not only in the political but also in the economic field. She expressed satisfaction that the Russian campaigns could be represented in Mozambique.
“Our relationship dates back to the period when Mozambique was fighting for independence. Even after we gained independence, Russia has always been by our side. These relations are obvious in different areas,” Bias stressed. She thanked Matviyenko and her delegation for visiting Mozambique, and finally described the visit as a sign “Russia is always with Mozambique and Mozambique is always with Russia.”
Reports indicate that Russia, at the moment, is preparing for the second Russia-Africa summit, but the dates will be determined in cooperation with the African Union. The first Russia-Africa summit was held in Sochi on October 23-24, 2019. It was co-chaired by the presidents of Russia and Egypt, Vladimir Putin and Abdul Fattah al-Sisi.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Seplat Energy Plc will revive hundreds of Nigerian oil wells laying fallow after completing the acquisition of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited (MPNU) from ExxonMobil.
The company said it aims to lift oil output to about 200,000 barrels a day, a move that will help boost Nigeria’s oil production levels, as it aims to reach 2 million barrels per day next year.
The transaction, according to Seplat, “is transformative for Seplat Energy, more than doubling production and positioning the company to drive growth and profitability, whilst contributing significantly to Nigeria’s future prosperity.”
The completion of the Seplat-ExxonMobil deal has created Nigeria’s leading independent energy company, with the enlarged company having equity in 11 blocks (onshore and shallow water Nigeria); 48 producing oil and gas fields; 5 gas processing facilities; and 3 export terminals.
Recall that the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) in October approved the deal as part of a series of approvals, while it blocked Shell’s asset sale of up to $2.4 billion to the Renaissance consortium.
The acquisition of the entire issued share capital of MPNU adds the following assets to the Seplat Group: 40 per cent operated interest in OML 67, 68, 70 and 104; 40 per cent operated interest in the Qua Iboe export terminal and the Yoho FSO; 51 per cent operated interest in the Bonny River Terminal (‘BRT’) NGL recovery plant; 9.6 per cent participating interest in the Aneman-Kpono field; and approximately 1,000 staff and 500 contractors will transition to the Seplat Group.
MPNU adds substantial reserves and production to Seplat Energy; 409 million barrels of oil equivalent (MMboe) 2P reserves and 670 MMboe 2P + 2C reserves and resources as at 30 June 2024 and 6M 2024 average daily production of 71.4 kboepd (thousand barrels of oil equivalent).
Business Post reports that Seplat will be part of the payment this year, and will defer some to next year,
Speaking on the transaction, the Chairman of Seplat Energy, Mr Udoma Udo Udoma commended President Bola Tinubu for supporting this transaction and appreciated the support and diligence of the various ministries and regulators for all the work to reach a successful conclusion.
“We are delighted to welcome the MPNU employees to Seplat Energy. We are excited to begin our journey in a new region of the country, and we look forward to replicating the positive impacts we have achieved within our communities in our current areas of operations.
“Seplat’s mission is to deliver value to all our stakeholders, and we treasure the good relationships we have developed with the government, regulators, communities and our staff.”
On his part, the chief executive of Seplat Energy, Mr Roger Brown, described the acquisition as a major milestone, adding, “I extend my thanks to the entire Seplat team for their hard work and perseverance to complete this transaction.
“MPNU’s employees and contractors have a strong reputation for safety and operational excellence, and I welcome them to the Seplat Energy Group.
“We have acquired a company with one of the best portfolios of assets and related infrastructure in a world-class basin, providing enormous potential for the Seplat Group. Our commitment is to invest to increase oil and gas production while reducing costs and emissions, maximising value for all our stakeholders.
“MPNU is a perfect fit with our strategy to build a sustainable business that can deliver affordable, accessible and reliable energy for Nigeria alongside attractive returns to our shareholders”.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The National Pension Commission (PenCom) is projected to close the year with over N22 trillion in pension assets impacted by challenges like inflation and monetary policies.
This is according to PenCom Director-General, Mrs Omolola Oloworaran, at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday.
She said as of October 2024, the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) had 10.53 million registered contributors and pension fund assets worth N21.92 trillion.
Speaking at the conference-themed Tech-driven Transformation Shaping the Pension Landscape, which showcased PenCom’s strategic commitment to innovation, she said that the numbers reflected the agency’s unwavering commitment to fund safety, prudent management, and sustainable growth.
She explained that the pension environment was impacted by the wider economic challenges facing the country, noting that the sector battled multi-year high inflation, Naira devaluation, and the lingering effects of unorthodox monetary policies by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Business Post reports that the apex bank hiked interest rates by 875 basis points this year alone to tackle persistent inflation which peaked at 33.8 per cent as of October.
She said that these challenges eroded the real value of pension funds and impacted contributors’ purchasing power.
“To address these issues, the commission has initiated a comprehensive review of its investment regulations.
“It is focusing on diversifying pension fund investments into inflation-protected instruments, alternative assets, and foreign currency-denominated investments.
“The goal is to safeguard contributor savings and ensure resilience against future economic volatility,” she said.
She restated the commission’s commitment to expanding pension coverage, particularly through the advanced micro-pension plan designed to encourage participation from the informal sector using technology.
“This initiative will make it easier for everyday Nigerians to save for retirement, aligning with our vision of inclusive growth and financial stability for all.
“The backlog in retirement benefits for retirees of the Federal Government’s Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) will soon be settled.
“The federal government recently disbursed N44 billion under the 2024 budget to settle approved pension rights.
“We are collaborating with the Federal Government to institutionalise a sustainable solution to ensure retirees receive their benefits promptly, eliminating delays,” Mrs Oloworaran said.
She said that PenCom’s technology-driven transformation aimed to make the CPS more accessible, reliable, and sustainable.
“From data management to seamless contributions and regulatory supervision, we are paving the way for a future where the pension industry serves all Nigerians effectively,” she said,
Mrs Oloworaran also said that the e-application portal for pension clearance certificates has replaced the manual processes and enhanced the ease of doing business in the sector.
“Since its deployment, 38,528 pension clearance certificates have been issued. This initiative ensures compliance and secures the future of Nigerians working in organisations that interact with the government,” she said.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange closed flat on Thursday, December 12 after it ended the trading session with no single price gainer or loser.
As a result, the market capitalisation remained unchanged at N1.055 trillion as the NASD Unlisted Security Index (NSI) followed the same route, remaining at 3,012.50 points like the previous trading session.
However, the activity chart witnessed changes as the volume of securities traded at the bourse went down by 92.5 per cent to 447,905 units from the 5.9 million units transacted a day earlier.
In the same vein, the value of securities bought and sold by investors declined by 86.6 per cent to N3.02 million from the N22.5 million recorded in the preceding trading day.
But the number of deals carried out during the session remained unchanged at 21 deals, according to data obtained by Business Post.
When trading activities ended for the day, Geo-Fluids Plc remained the most active stock by volume (year-to-date) with 1.7 billion units sold for N3.9 billion, Okitipupa Plc came next with 752.2 million units valued at N7.8 billion, and Afriland Properties Plc was in third place with 297.5 million units worth N5.3 million.
Also, Aradel Holdings Plc remained the most active stock by value (year-to-date) with 108.7 million units worth N89.2 billion, followed by Okitipupa Plc with 752.2 million units valued at N7.8 billion, and Afriland Properties Plc with 297.5 million units sold for N5.3 billion.
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