Economy
Sub-Saharan Africa Could Recover by 2.1% in 2021—World Bank
By Adedapo Adesanya
The World Bank has said that Sub-Saharan Africa will reverse an economic contraction next year and could grow by 2.1 per cent as countries in the region begin to ease movement restrictions induced by the coronavirus pandemic.
It, however, noted that the impact of the coronavirus will endure for years to come as many as 40 million people could be pushed into extreme poverty, erasing five years of gains fighting poverty.
The Bretton Wood lender made the disclosure on Thursday, noting that the region’s gross domestic product (GDP) is on track to shrink 3.3 per cent this year as a result of the double-edged sword of the disease and lower oil and commodities prices.
Though it noted that the fallout that rose from the pandemic could be hard to predict, it said the growth of about 2.1 per cent could follow in 2021 and 3.2 per cent in 2022.
It explained that if the outbreak is more prolonged or if there’s a second wave, sub-Saharan Africa’s economy may expand by only 1.2 per cent in 2021 and 2.1 per cent in 2022.
It projected that by the end of 2021, the region’s real per-capita GDP may have regressed to 2007 levels.
The region will lose at least $115 million in output this year and long-term losses are expected with the level of real per-capita GDP expected to contract by 2.1 per cent and 5.1 per cent, confirming earlier forecasts that sub-Saharan Africa will suffer its first recession in a quarter of a century in 2020.
While East Africa and Southern Africa are expected to experience slower growth in 2020 compared with West and Central Africa, their economies may expand faster next year at 2.7 per cent versus 1.3 per cent in West and Central Africa.
The lender noted that oil-exporting countries have been hit hardest, with growth expected to drop by more than 4 per cent in Angola and Nigeria.
It noted that to help alleviate the effect on Africa’s poorest countries, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have proposed suspending debt servicing this year.
However, that would address only a fraction of total debt, and debt relief from private creditors is likely needed as well, the lender said.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The N230 billion 10-year bond issued to investors by the Lagos State government has been listed on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited.
It was the Series 4 of the state government’s N1 trillion Debt and Hybrid Instruments Issuance Programme, which was sold at a coupon rate of 16.25 per cent.
It was offered for sale to bondholders in November 2025, with Chapel Hill Denham Advisory Limited as the leading issuing house and bookrunner.
The joint issuing houses and bookrunners were Asset & Resources Management Limited, Capital Bancorp Plc, Cardinal Stone Partners Limited, Cedrus Capital Limited, Comercio Partners Capital Limited, Cordros Advisory Services Limited, Coronation Merchant Bank Limited, Dynamic Portfolio Limited, FCMB Capital Markets Limited, FCSL Asset Management Company Limited, FirstCap Limited, G.A. Capital Limited, LeadCapital Plc, Light House Capital Limited, Phoenix Global Capital Markets Limited, Quantum Zenith Capital and Investments Limited, Radix Capital Partners Limited, SFS Financial Services Limited, Stanbic IBTC Capital Limited, United Capital Plc, and, Vetiva Advisory Services Limited.
The debt instruments are callable at par after 60 months, on any coupon payment date, subject to the issuer having obtained prior regulatory approvals and upon issuance of the requisite notice to bondholders.
Business Post reports that the bond was sold at a unit price of N1,000, with the interest to be paid to investors on every May 20 and November 20 until maturity.
According to the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, proceeds from the exercise would be used for critical infrastructure in transportation, housing, the environment, healthcare, education, urban renewal, and the provision of other sustainable infrastructure that would serve the future needs of the state.
The listing of the debt instrument on the stock exchange today, Monday, February 9, 2026, allows investors to trade the bond at the secondary market.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced plans to hold its 304th Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting on Monday, February 23 and Tuesday, February 24, 2026.
This information was disclosed in a circular published on the apex bank’s official website on Monday. This will be the first meeting of 2026.
The gathering comes amid sustained efforts by the CBN to rein in inflation, stabilise the foreign exchange market, and strengthen macroeconomic conditions.
At its last MPC meeting in November 2025, the central bank retained the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) at 27 per cent, maintaining its restrictive posture in a bid to curb inflationary pressures and stabilise the foreign exchange (FX) market.
The MPC is one of the bank’s highest policy-making bodies, responsible for formulating monetary and credit policies aimed at ensuring price stability.
Through key instruments such as the MPR, Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR), and Liquidity Ratio (LR), the committee guides interest rate conditions and overall monetary direction in the economy.
Comprising the CBN Governor, Deputy Governors, Board members, and appointed external members, the committee meets periodically to review critical economic indicators, including inflation, gross domestic product, and exchange rate developments, before taking policy decisions.
The apex bank outlined the timetable and venue in its official notice.
“The 304th meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is scheduled to hold as follows,” the CBN said.
“Day 1: Monday, February 23, 2026 – Time: 10.00 a.m.”
“Day 2: Tuesday, February 24, 2026 – Time: 8.00 a.m.”
According to the circular, the meeting will take place at the MPC Meeting Room on the 11th floor of the CBN Head Office in Abuja.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The suspension placed on trading in the shares of Fortis Global Insurance Plc has been lifted by the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited after six years.
The embargo arose from the company’s violation of Rule 3.1: Rules for Filing of Accounts and Treatment of Default Filing (Default Filing Rules).
The underwriting firm, formerly known as Standard Alliance Insurance Plc, was suspended by the exchange on July 2, 2019, after the board failed to file the necessary financial statements.
Rule 3.1 provides that if an issuer fails to file the relevant accounts by the expiration of the cure period, the exchange will: a) send to the issuer a second filing deficiency notification within two business days after the end of the cure period, b) suspend trading in the issuer’s securities, and c) notify the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the market within 24 hours of the suspension.
A notice from the bourse last week disclosed that the company has now filed all outstanding financial statements due to the NGX, and in view of this, the embargo has been lifted pursuant to Rule 3.3 of the Default Filing Rules.
This section states that, “The suspension of trading in the issuer’s securities shall be lifted upon submission of the relevant accounts, provided the exchange is satisfied that the accounts comply with all applicable rules of the exchange.
“The exchange shall thereafter also announce through the medium by which the public and the SEC were initially notified of the suspension, that the suspension has been lifted.”
The bourse informed trading license holders and the investing public “that the suspension placed on trading on the shares of Fortis Global Insurance was lifted on Wednesday, February 4, 2026.”
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