Economy
Stock Market Sheds 0.31% as DSS-Emefiele Crisis Scares Investors
By Dipo Olowookere
The Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited lost 0.31 per cent on Monday as news of operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) invading the headquarters of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in search of its Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, rattled investors.
For the past few weeks, investors at the local stock market had closely watched how the secret police have made moves to arrest the central banker over alleged terrorism financing.
However, things turned awry yesterday after it was reported that the security officials were at the CBN office in Abuja, disrupting their activities.
The apex bank later in the day released a statement that Mr Emefiele, whose whereabouts before now had been a subject of speculations, resumed duty after a vacation abroad.
He left Nigeria with President Muhammadu Buhari last month for the US-Africa Summit in Washington, DC, but did not return with his boss after the programme.
There are no indications if Mr Buhari would wade into the matter to reassure investors, especially offshore, that the rule of law would be allowed to play because of the wrong signal the matter is beaming to the world.
At the stock exchange yesterday, investors traded cautiously, which led to selling pressure, causing the trading volume, value and the number of deals to rise by 2.16 per cent, 26.92 per cent, and 13.68 per cent, respectively.
A total of 221.9 million shares worth N3.3 billion exchanged hands in 5,219 deals on Monday, compared with the 217.2 million shares worth N2.6 billion transacted in 4,591 deals last Friday.
UBA sold the highest number of stocks yesterday, 22.9 million units, followed by GTCO, which transacted 20.0 million units. Transcorp traded 14.6 million units, FBN Holdings exchanged 14.1 million units, and Zenith Bank transacted 13.5 million units.
From the analysis of the market data by Business Post, the banking sector suffered the heaviest fall as its index depreciated by 3.39 per cent. The industrial goods counter fell by 0.18 per cent, the consumer goods space depleted by 0.08 per cent, while the insurance and the energy sectors appreciated by 0.39 per cent and 0.09 per cent, respectively.
At the close of business, the All-Share Index (ASI) fell by 163.66 points to 52,348.82 points from 52,512.48 points, as the market capitalisation reduced by N89 billion to N28.513 trillion from N28.602 trillion.
Investor sentiment was weak yesterday as the market breadth ended negative, with 23 price losers and 20 price gainers.
Chellerams declined by 9.70 per cent to N1.21, Prestige Assurance lost 8.70 per cent to trade at 42 Kobo, Livestock Feeds went down by 7.69 per cent to N1.20, Mutual Benefits decreased by 6.25 per cent to 30 Kobo, and Honeywell Flour shrank by 6.22 per cent to N2.26.
However, the share price of Presco grew by 9.67 per cent to N150.80, Coronation Insurance expanded by 9.52 per cent to 46 Kobo, FTN Cocoa gained 7.14 per cent to sell at 30 Kobo, ABC Transport went up by 6.90 per cent to 31 Kobo, as RT Briscoe also rose by 6.90 per cent to 31 Kobo.
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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