Economy
SEC Advises FCT to Float Long-Term Infrastructure Bond Programme
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mr Emomotimi Agama, has outlined how the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) can leverage Nigeria’s capital market to raise long-term funds for critical infrastructure projects instead of relying solely on annual budgetary allocations.
According to Mr Agama, the capital market offers the FCT a sustainable financing model for roads, rail, housing, water, transport and other infrastructure through instruments such as infrastructure bonds, green bonds, real estate investment trusts (REITs), asset recycling and tokenised municipal securities.
Speaking at the Abuja Business and Investment Summit and Expo (ABIE 2026) in Abuja, the SEC chief noted that Abuja’s development demonstrates that economic growth is driven by investment, stressing that “cities are not built by budgets alone. Cities are built by capital markets.”
He advised the FCT to establish a long-term infrastructure bond programme backed by dedicated revenue sources such as ground rents, tenement rates, tolls, parking fees and land-use charges, noting that this would enable the territory to finance major projects without overburdening annual budgets.
“A budget can only spend what a single year has collected. A bond can spend what 30 years will collect,” Mr Agama said, explaining that infrastructure projects generate long-term economic value that can be used to service debt over time.
The SEC boss said the territory could also access cheaper financing through green and sustainability-linked bonds for projects including mass transit, light rail, solar-powered street lighting, waste-to-energy facilities and water infrastructure.
He further proposed the creation of an FCT Real Estate Investment Trust to unlock value from Abuja’s extensive property portfolio while giving ordinary Nigerians an opportunity to invest in the city’s real estate market.
Mr Agama also urged Abuja Investments Company Limited (AICL) to consider listing some of its businesses or establishing a listed infrastructure fund, saying this would raise capital without increasing government debt while improving corporate governance and transparency.
On the long-abandoned Millennium Tower project, he said the estimated over N400 billion completion cost should not be viewed as a budgetary burden but as an investment opportunity that could be financed through a special purpose vehicle and offered to investors via the capital market.
“The question is not whether Nigeria can afford the Millennium Tower. The question is whether we will let ordinary Nigerians own it,” he said.
Mr Agama further proposed an asset recycling programme under which completed income-generating public assets, including terminals, markets, commercial properties and the International Conference Centre, could be securitised or concessioned to institutional investors, with proceeds reinvested in new infrastructure.
He also called on the FCT to pioneer a regulated tokenised municipal bond programme that would allow citizens to invest as little as N10,000 through mobile phones in specific infrastructure projects.
According to him, the recently enacted Investments and Securities Act (ISA) 2025 has strengthened the legal framework for sub-national governments to access the capital market while providing enhanced investor protection and clearer regulation of digital assets.
Mr Agama disclosed that Nigeria’s capital market has grown significantly, with total market capitalisation exceeding N217 trillion as of May 2026, comprising about N160.5 trillion in equities and N56.7 trillion in bonds.
He said recent reforms, including the migration to a T+1 settlement cycle and regulatory measures to deepen market participation, have improved market efficiency and strengthened investor confidence.
The SEC DG assured the FCTA of the commission’s readiness to provide technical support for structuring and registering capital market instruments, saying the agency would work closely with the territory to unlock financing for infrastructure projects.
He added that Nigeria’s capital market remains critical to mobilising domestic savings for national development, insisting that “money is not scarce; delivery capacity is scarce, and financing follows delivery capacity.”
By Adedapo Adesanya
MTN Nigeria Communications Plc is awaiting regulatory approval from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to complete the planned transfer of a 60 per cent stake in its fintech businesses to its parent company, MTN Group, before the end of 2026.
The transaction involves MoMo Payment Service Bank Limited (MoMo PSB) and Y’ello Digital Financial Services Limited (YDFS), two businesses within MTN Nigeria’s financial technology portfolio.
The development follows the company’s earlier announcement in April that MTN Group, through its fintech subsidiary, would acquire a 60 per cent stake in both companies for N95.5 billion, as part of a restructuring aimed at reducing MTN Nigeria’s exposure to the loss-making fintech operations.
Under the proposed structure, MTN Nigeria would retain a 40 per cent interest, while MTN Group Fintech would hold 60 per cent.
The company had said the transaction would be implemented in two phases, with the second phase involving the creation of a financial holding company, Fintech HoldCo, which would ultimately own 100 per cent of MoMo PSB and YDFS.
However, the completion of the restructuring is subject to CBN approval, which Business Post gathered is expected to be concluded in the second half of 2026.
The proposed transaction is designed to redistribute the financial and operational risks associated with the fintech businesses between MTN Nigeria and its parent company.
MTN Nigeria had explained that the restructuring would allow MTN Group Fintech to share future capital requirements, losses, regulatory obligations and execution risks associated with the businesses, while MTN Nigeria would maintain a significant minority stake.
The planned investment has an implied value of N152.06 billion in capital injection into the fintech companies, with the N95.5 billion transaction value based on an intra-group debt-free and cash-free valuation.
MoMo PSB operates as a payment service bank, providing services including deposits, payments, transfers and digital wallets to individuals and small businesses through digital and mobile platforms.
YDFS, meanwhile, operates as a licensed super-agent, providing agency banking services such as cash deposits, withdrawals and bill payments through the MoMo network.
MTN’s decision to restructure the businesses comes as the telecommunications company continues to invest heavily in its core connectivity operations amid growing demand for data and digital services.
MTN Nigeria also said it had invested more than N1.6 trillion in network infrastructure since the beginning of 2025, including N620.5 billion in the first half of 2026 alone.
The company’s data business has also expanded significantly, with data revenue rising by 38.4 per cent to N1.70 trillion in the first half of 2026, overtaking voice revenue of N993 billion.
The growth in data services has been supported by a 9.3 per cent increase in active data subscribers to 55.7 million, while smartphone penetration rose to 66.4 per cent.
MTN’s Chief Financial Officer, Mr Modupe Kadri, said the company remained focused on maintaining investment in its core operations while managing cost pressures and strengthening its balance sheet.
The company’s fintech restructuring therefore comes against the backdrop of a broader strategy to optimise its businesses, allocate capital more efficiently and ensure that investments are aligned with areas offering stronger growth prospects.
Once approved by the CBN, the transaction will allow MTN Nigeria to reduce its direct financial exposure to the fintech businesses while retaining a 40 per cent stake and continuing to participate in their future growth.
The company is expected to provide further updates on the transaction as the regulatory approval process progresses, with completion targeted before the end of 2026.
By Dipo Olowookere
The local stock exchange recorded a 0.12 per cent week-on-week expansion last week as a result of the gains achieved by 26 equities on the platform. The number of price advancers, however, was lower than the 33 posted in the preceding week.
In the five-day trading week, there were 63 price losers, higher than 56 of the previous week, while 58 stocks closed flat versus 58 stocks of the earlier week.
The price advancers were led by AVA Capital, which grew by 33.33 per cent to N11.00. FCMB gained 13.10 per cent to trade at N12.95, First Holdco appreciated by 12.23 per cent to N145.40, Fortis Global Insurance soared by 11.11 per cent to N2.60, and Linkage Assurance went up by 10.63 per cent to N1.77.
On the flip side, Thomas Wyatt shed 26.71 per cent to close at N3.21, Trans-Nationwide Express crashed by 23.76 per cent to N2.15, CMFC dropped 22.68 per cent to settle at N3.00, Ecobank stumbled by 18.94 per cent to N71.20, and Consolidated Hallmark lost 16.51 per cent to N6.98.
Last week, the All-Share Index (ASI) of the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited rose by 0.12 per cent to 245,573.60 points, and the market capitalisation also chalked up 0.12 per cent to finish at N158.513 trillion.
Similarly, all other indices finished higher apart from the main board, insurance, consumer goods, energy, Lotus II, industrial goods, growth, sovereign bond, and commodity indices, which depreciated by 0.83 per cent, 3.31 per cent, 1.75 per cent, 0.03 per cent, 0.46 per cent, 0.17 per cent, 2.14 per cent, 0.09 per cent and 0.01 per cent, respectively.
In the week, market participants transacted 5.359 billion shares worth N139.053 billion in 261,869 deals compared with the 5.119 billion shares valued at N404.762 billion traded in 285,223 deals a week earlier.
Data showed that the Financial Services space led the activity chart with 3.469 billion shares sold for N73.013 billion in 117,509 deals, contributing 64.73 per cent and 52.51 per cent to the total trading volume and value, respectively. The energy counter followed with 1.023 billion shares worth N18.900 billion in 17,680 deals, and the ICT sector recorded a turnover of 232.368 million shares worth N14.624 billion in 31,866 deals.
Japaul, Fortis Global Insurance, and FCMB accounted for 2.562 billion units valued at N14.173 billion in 6,645 deals, contributing 47.80 per cent and 10.19 per cent to the total trading volume and value, respectively.
Economy
Trump Earned over $1 billion Through Cryptocurrency; How Can an Ordinary Investor Earn $17,700?
Trump publicly criticized Bitcoin in 2021 but rapidly shifted his stance during the campaign, proposing to make the United States the “global cryptocurrency capital.”
After returning to the White House, he signed an executive order supporting the development of the digital asset industry. Meanwhile, reports indicate that Trump and his associated businesses have generated over $1 billion in gains through cryptocurrency.
As we enter 2026, cloud mining is emerging as a new area of interest amidst the continued development of computing infrastructure and digital asset markets. For the average investor, the question arises: how can one generate $17,700 in passive income—or even more—despite constant market volatility?
Cloud mining： represented by platforms like SHRMiner, is rapidly gaining market attention. By providing rentable computing power services and earning mining rewards, it allows users to access the complete cloud mining process and earn passive BTC income without purchasing expensive equipment or specialized skills.
Recently, SHRMiner, a UK-based cloud mining platform, officially launched a new “free cloud mining service.” This service is designed for holders of mainstream cryptocurrencies such as BTC, XRP, DOGE, LTC, and EHT, providing users with a new opportunity to participate in cryptocurrency mining without any entry barriers.
How to earn passive income from BTC through SHEMiner cloud mining
Start earning returns in just three simple steps:
- Register an account
By visiting the official SHRMiner website, users can register for a free account in less than two minutes and receive a $15 sign-up bonus; this bonus allows them to quickly experience the platform’s services and earn a daily return of $0.60 from a complimentary trial contract.
- Select a cloud mining plan
Choose a cloud mining plan that suits your needs and budget. The platform offers flexible plans ranging from $100 to $200,000 to meet the investment goals of different users.
- Start earning returns
After purchasing a contract, earnings are automatically settled within 24 hours without requiring additional management or action; users can withdraw their earnings to their cryptocurrency wallet addresses at any time or reinvest the profits to benefit from the compounding effect.
The primary advantage of this model is that it significantly lowers the barrier to entry. Users do not need to research specific mining hardware models or hashrate configurations, nor do they need to set up their own system environments; simply by registering an account, depositing assets, and selecting a mining plan, they can start earning returns.
SHRMiner Platform Advantages:
- Supports daily automatic settlement
- No additional electricity or maintenance costs required
- Utilizes advanced ASIC mining hardware, powered by renewable energy sources including hydropower, wind power, and solar power
- Supports mining for multiple currencies: earn mainstream cryptocurrencies such as BTC, XRP, ETH, DOGE, USDC, USDT, SOL, LTC, and BCH.
- Equipped with SSL encryption and DDoS protection, a real-time earnings dashboard for easy monitoring of mining performance
- 100% remote access, fully accessible via the SHRMiner application or browser without hardware requirements, and 24/7 online technical support.
⦁Affiliate Program: The Affiliate Program allows you to earn up to 4.5% commission by referring friends, with the opportunity to earn an additional bonus of up to 30,000.
Examples of common contracts:
| Contract Name | Price | Profit | Days | Principal + Total Return |
| New User Experience Agreement | $100 | $4 | 2 | $100+$8 |
| Bitdeer Sealminer A2 Pro | $500 | $6.25 | 5 | $500.00 + $31.25 |
| Litecoin Miner L9 | $1000.00 | $13.00 | 10 | $1000.00 + $130 |
| Bitcoin Miner S21 XP Imm | $5000.00 | $70.00 | 25 | $5000.00 + $1750 |
| Bitcoin Miner S21e XP Hyd | $10000.00 | $150.00 | 35 | $10000.00 + $5250 |
| ANTSPACE HW5 | $50000.00 | $900.00 | 45 | $50000.00 + $40500 |
After purchasing a contract, earnings will be automatically credited to your account within 24 hours. Upon contract expiration, your principal will be returned in full. You may withdraw the principal or reinvest it to benefit from compound returns; please click here for more details regarding the mining contract.
Unimaginable money-making opportunities
What sets SHRMiner apart is its extraordinary daily passive income; users have the opportunity to earn $10,700 or even more each day, turning the dream of online wealth into reality. Imagine generating substantial income without the need for ongoing investment or complex setups—that is exactly what SHRMiner offers.
Safety and Sustainability
In the mining sector, trust and security are paramount; SHRMiner fully recognizes this and prioritizes user safety above all else. Committed to transparency and legitimacy, SHRMiner ensures your investment is protected, allowing you to focus on profitability. All mining facilities utilize clean energy, making this a carbon-conscious cloud mining operation. Renewable energy protects the environment from pollution while providing a powerful energy source.
In short
If you are looking for ways to generate passive income, cloud mining is an excellent choice. When approached correctly, these opportunities allow you to effortlessly build cryptocurrency wealth on “autopilot” with minimal time investment. At the very least, they are far less time-consuming than any form of active trading. Passive income is the ultimate goal for every investor and trader, and with SHRMiner, maximizing your passive income potential is easier than ever.
To learn more about SHRMiner, please visit the official website: https://shrminer.com
