Economy
SMDF, AFC Partner to Derisk Nigeria’s Mining Sector
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Solid Minerals Development Fund of Nigeria (SMDF) and the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) have announced a transformative partnership aimed at derisking Nigeria’s mining sector and scaling up artisanal miners in the country to an industrial level of operation.
The collaboration announced on the sidelines of Nigerian Mining Week in Abuja on Tuesday follows a cooperation agreement signed by AFC and SMDF earlier in the year. It is set to address the dearth of expertise and funding for early-stage mining projects, paving the way for these projects to reach financial close and full-scale operations.
Nigeria is rich in mineral resources and has immense potential for mining development. However, the lack of available expertise and funding has posed challenges in advancing mining projects.
AFC and SMDF aim to bridge this gap to unlock the immense potential of Nigeria’s mineral resources. By pooling their resources and expertise, these two leading institutions will not only provide investment opportunities but a joint project development facility that includes technical support, ensuring that promising mining projects receive the guidance and funding they need to thrive.
One of the key deliverables of this collaboration is the AFC-SMDF Investment Manual. This comprehensive document will offer project sponsors a clear understanding of how the joint project development facility operates, its objectives, and the specific requirements for project consideration. The manual will also feature an appraisal checklist outlining the criteria that both institutions require for project evaluation.
To streamline the project submission process, AFC and SMDF have created a dedicated portal for project sponsors.
The portal will be managed by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) working with renowned Nigerian consulting firms to screen and conduct initial evaluations. Subsequently, projects will be submitted to AFC and SMDF for further assessment.
To further improve the mining sector in Nigeria, AFC and SMDF have also engaged Wood Mackenzie, a global research and consulting firm, to undertake a comprehensive study assessing the feasibility of establishing a midstream processing plant in Nigeria.
This study will focus on critical minerals such as Lithium, Nickel, and other energy transition metals abundant in the country to evaluate their profitability as well as the return potential of midstream and downstream mineral processing projects.
The study will create a robust foundation for AFC and SMDF to deploy their balance sheets in order to further de-risk the investment landscape for potential investors.
Commenting on this groundbreaking partnership, Mrs Samaila Zubairu, President and chief executive officer (CEO) of AFC, stated, “The world needs African resources to fully transition to clean energy in the long term, and more investment is required to sustainably mine and develop in-continent processing capacity for commodities that are critical to the energy transition.
“This collaboration signifies our commitment to unlock the vast potential of Nigeria’s mineral resources by leveraging the wealth of our renewable energy sources for local processing, thus fostering sustainable development and economic prosperity in Nigeria and Africa.”
On her part, Mrs Fatima Umaru Shinkafi, Executive Secretary and CEO of Solid Minerals Development Fund, said: “We are pleased to deepen our cooperation with the AFC through collaborating on these strategic initiatives to support the Nigerian mining industry. I am incredibly grateful for the Honourable Minister’s support, which has been critical to developing these initiatives.
“These initiatives align with the Renewed Hope Agenda and the Ministry’s Transformation Agenda of leveraging the mining sector to catalyze economic growth, competitiveness, and job creation.”
By Adedapo Adesanya
Proprietary Investment firm, VFD Group Plc, recorded a 1,202 per cent rise in its Profit Before Tax (PBT) in the 2024 financial year, closing December 31, 2024, at N11.2 billion.
This marked a turnaround after VFD Group reported a pre-tax loss of N1 billion in 2023 due to macroeconomic headwinds which affected a lot of businesses locally and globally.
Net investment income surged by 95 per cent to N59.0 billion despite a spike in investment expenses to N15.5 billion from N7.4 billion in 2023.
Other metrics showed that net revenue increased by 90 per cent to N71.0 billion, while operating profit grew by an impressive 104 per cent to N48.8 billion.
The firm, listed on the main board of the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited, noted that the development showcased exceptional growth.
“The journey to this milestone was paved with strategic initiatives and a relentless pursuit of innovation,” it added in a statement on Friday.
The company holds investments in over 20 portfolio businesses spanning key sectors such as financial services, banking, market infrastructure, capital markets, technology, real estate, and hospitality.
As of April 22, 2025, VFD Group’s market capitalisation surged by 116 per cent to hit N121.6 billion from N56.2 billion year to date.
“These outstanding results reflect the success of our team’s efforts. As VFD Group looks to the future, it remains committed to delivering exceptional value to its customers and stakeholders,” the statement added.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
About $90 billion is expected to be generated in economic value by 2035 from new strategies developed by the Nigerian government for agribusiness expansion and livestock transformation.
To achieve this, the National Economic Council (NEC) chaired by the Vice President, Mr Kashim Shettima, has approved the establishment of a Cotton, Textile and Garment Development Board.
At the NEC meeting on Thursday in Abuja, steps to reposition Nigeria’s economy and tackle insecurity at its roots were discussed by the participants, which included the governors of the 36 states of the federation.
The new regulatory body for the cotton, textile and garment sector of Nigeria will have governors representing the six geo-political zones, with Ministers of Agriculture and Food Security, Budget and Economic Planning, and Industry, Trade and Investment as members.
It would be domiciled in the presidency, with representation of the relevant public sector stakeholders, and funded from the Textile Import Levy being collected by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), though it would be private sector-driven.
“Nigeria is a nation where cotton can thrive in 34 states. Yet our production level remains a fraction of our potential.
“We currently produce only 13,000 metric tons, while we continue to import textiles worth hundreds of millions of dollars. This is not just an economic imbalance. It is an invitation to act,” he added.
“Our goal is not just regulation. It is a revival. This is our opportunity to re-industrialise, to empower communities, and to restore pride in local production,” the VP stated.
Also at the meeting yesterday, the council approved the establishment of the Green Imperative Project (GIP), with a national office in Abuja and regional offices across the six geopolitical zones.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange closed higher by 0.55 per cent on Thursday, April 24 after the prices of three stocks on the platform ended in green.
This added N10.48 billion to the market capitalisation of the bourse, closing at N1.918 trillion compared with the N1.908 trillion it ended in the preceding session.
In the same vein, the NASD Unlisted Security Index (NSI) went up during the session by 17.90 points to 3,276.98 points from the previous session’s 3,259.08 points.
The market was dominated by bargain-hunting activities due to renewed investor confidence. None of the securities on the NASD ended in red yesterday.
However, Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc gained N1.97 to close at N21.71 per unit compared with Wednesday’s price of N19.74 per unit, FrieslandCampina Wamco Nigeria Plc appreciated by 15 Kobo to end at N37.95 per share, in contrast to midweek’s value of N37.80 per share, and Geo-Fluids Plc grew by 8 Kobo to settle at N1.70 per unit versus the preceding day’s price of N1.62 per unit.
During the trading day, the volume of securities transacted by the market participants increased by 19,558.9 per cent to 206.2 million units from 1.05 million units, the value of transactions jumped by 13,509.2 per cent to N354.1 million from N2.6 million, and the number of deals rose by 245.5 per cent to 38 deals from 11 deals.
When trading activities finished for the day, Impresit Bakolori Plc remained the most active stock by volume (year-to-date) with 533.9 million units sold for N520.9 million, followed by Geo-Fluids Plc with 250.9 million units worth N441.0 million, and Okitipupa Plc with 153.6 million units valued at N4.9 billion.
Also, Okitipupa Plc remained the most active stock by value (year-to-date) with 153.6 million units valued at N4.9 billion, trailed by FrieslandCampina Wamco Nigeria Plc with 14.9 million units worth N573.2 million, and Impresit Bakolori Plc with 533.9 million units valued at N520.9 million.
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