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Economy

Uzoka-Anite Warns Against Inflation Risks from Oil, Gas Earnings Surge

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Nigeria’s Headline Inflation

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Minister of State for Finance and chairman of the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), Mrs Doris Uzoka-Anite, has cautioned that a projected surge in oil and gas revenues following President Bola Tinubu’s latest executive order could trigger inflationary pressures and exchange rate volatility if not carefully managed.

She said that the recent executive order mandating the direct remittance of certain oil sector revenues to the federation account would provide regulatory clarity and significantly strengthen revenues accruing to the federation account, but warned that sudden liquidity injections into the economy may complicate monetary policy coordination with the Central Bank of Nigeria and erode the real value of allocations to federal, state and local governments.

While addressing members of FAAC in Abuja, Mrs Uzoka-Anite commended President Tinubu on the order, describing the development as a structural fiscal correction aimed at restoring constitutional discipline to petroleum revenue management and enhancing distributable income across the three tiers of government.

She said that the revenue outlook was improving due to ongoing structural reforms introduced by the Federal Government.

According to her, the newly implemented tax reform measures are broadening the tax base, improving compliance and enhancing administrative efficiency.

“Also, the executive order signed by Mr President on February 13 is reinforcing revenue discipline in the oil and gas sector and reducing leakages,” she said.

The minister said that the order suspends the 30 per cent allocation to the Frontier Exploration Fund (FEF) and suspends the 30 per cent management fee on oil and gas profit payable to NNPC Limited.

She said that the order also directed that gas flare penalties be paid into the federation account, and mandated full remittance of petroleum revenues without unconstitutional deductions.

Mrs Uzoka-Anite said that the reform marks a shift from a retention-based oil revenue model to a gross remittance, federation-first model.

“The implications for FAAC are very significant; more oil and gas profit will now flow directly into the federation account.

“Gas flare penalties will become distributable revenue, and previously retained management fees will no longer reduce remittable inflows,” she said.

She said that the reforms were expected to result in higher monthly gross inflows into the federation account, and increased allocations to federal, state and local governments.

The minister said that a retrospective audit of the FFF, the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure, was due, and NNPC management fee deductions could lead to recoveries that may provide a one-off fiscal boost.

She welcomed the improved revenue outlook and cautioned against the risks associated with sudden liquidity injections.

“Experience shows that when revenues rise sharply and are distributed fully and immediately, large liquidity injections can increase inflationary pressures, complicate monetary management and reduce the real purchasing power of allocations,” she said.

She said that excess aggregate demand, exchange rate pressure, asset price distortions and inflationary risks could arise if increased inflows were not carefully managed.

Mrs Uzoka-Anite said that to mitigate such risks, she proposed phased disbursement of one-off recoveries.

She suggested that retrospective recoveries be staggered rather than injected into the economy in bulk, with a portion temporarily warehoused in a stabilisation buffer.

She also recommended strengthening the excess crude and stabilisation buffer mechanism to channel part of incremental inflows into a fiscal stabilisation window.

“This could offset revenue shortfalls in weaker months and reduce procyclicality in spending.

According to her, enhanced coordination with the CBN would be pursued to align fiscal injections with liquidity management tools and support open market operations where necessary.

Mrs Uzoka-Anite urged states and federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to prioritise capital expenditure over recurrent expenditure.

She called for investment in infrastructure, agriculture, energy and other productive sectors, and avoid unsustainable wage or consumption spikes.

“Productive spending expands supply capacity and mitigates inflation,” she said.

She also announced plans to introduce monthly revenue transparency dashboards, production-to-remittance reconciliation reporting, and clear reporting of incremental inflows arising from tax reforms and the executive order.

The junior finance minister said that the reforms presented an opportunity to deepen fiscal federalism, enhance distributable revenue, restore constitutional clarity and strengthen trust among tiers of government.

She also advised that increased revenue must not translate into fiscal complacency.

“We must resist the temptation to treat incremental inflows as permanent windfalls. We should reduce debt burdens, clear arrears responsibly, build buffers and invest in growth-enhancing sectors,” she said.

Adedapo Adesanya is a journalist, polymath, and connoisseur of everything art. When he is not writing, he has his nose buried in one of the many books or articles he has bookmarked or simply listening to good music with a bottle of beer or wine. He supports the greatest club in the world, Manchester United F.C.

Economy

Coronation Projects 15.95% for Nigeria’s April 2026 Inflation

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Nigeria's headline inflation

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

Analysts at Coronation Research have said the inflation rate in Nigeria would be at 15.95 per cent on a year-on-year basis in April 2026 as a result of the “energy price shock stemming from the continued conflict in the Middle East, seasonal issues in regard to food prices and relative exchange rate stability.”

In a note sighted by Business Post on Friday, the research arm of the organisation further disclosed that the average price of goods and services for the month under review should rise by 2.35 per cent on a month-on-month basis versus 4.18 per cent in March 2026, reflecting continued food price firmness, offset by a cooling in the monthly inflation momentum as the March energy price shock partially unwinds.

It said the projected 2.35 per cent inflation rate signals a return toward the underlying disinflation trajectory and could be a pivotal data point in shaping Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) deliberations at the next policy meeting.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) is expected to release inflation numbers for last month later today. In March 2026, the rate soared by 15.38 per cent, triggered by the war in Iran waged by the United States.

Food inflation rate in March stood at 14.31 per cent on a year-on-year basis versus 25.22 per cent in the same month of last year, but on a month-on-month basis, it slowed to 4.17 per cent from the 4.69 per cent achieved in February 2026.

This was attributed to the rate of change in the average prices of Yam, Ginger (Fresh), Cassava Tuber, Groundnuts (Shelled), Irish Potatoes, Avenger (Ogbono/Apon) – Dried Ungrinded, Tomatoes (fresh), Cassava Flour sold loose, etc, according to the stats office.

In their report, Coronation Research expects food inflation to further ease, as food and non-alcoholic beverages remain the dominant contributor to headline CPI, accounting for about 40 per cent of the CPI basket.

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Economy

Unlisted Securities Market Further Suffers 0.33% Loss

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Unlisted Securities Market

By Adedapo Adesanya

The NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange further depreciated by 0.33 per cent on Wednesday, May 14, with the Unlisted Security Index (NSI) down by 13.76 points to 4,130.21 points from the previous day’s 4,143.97 points, and the market capitalisation dropping N8.23 billion to close at N2.471 trillion compared with Wednesday’s N2.479 trillion.

The unlisted securities market ended yesterday’s session with four price losers and one price gainer, led by Food Concepts Plc, which chalked up 9 Kobo to sell at N2.35 per unit, in contrast to midweek’s closing price of N2.26 per unit.

On the flip side, FrieslandCampina Wamco Plc depreciated by N1.58 to quote at N144.76 per share versus N146.34 per share, Central Securities and Clearing System (CSCS) Plc crumbled by N1.00 to trade at N71.00 per unit versus N72.00 per unit, First Trust Mortgage Bank Plc slid by 25 Kobo to N2.27 per share from N2.52 per share, and UBN Property Plc declined by 21 Kobo to N2.04 per unit from N2.25 per unit.

During the trading day, the volume of securities traded decreased by 70.2 per cent to 417,349 units from 1.4 million units, the value of securities dropped 36.9 per cent to N23.2 million from N36.8 million, and the number of deals stumbled by 13.9 per cent to 31 deals from 36 deals.

At the close of trades, Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) Plc remained the most active stock by value on a year-to-date basis, with 3.4 billion units valued at N8.4 billion, followed by CSCS Plc with 60.7 million units exchanged for N4.1 billion, and Okitipupa Plc with 27.9 million units traded for N1.9 billion.

GNI Plc was also the most active stock by volume on a year-to-date basis, with 3.4 billion units worth N8.4 billion, followed by Resourcery Plc with 1.1 billion units sold for N415.7 million, and Infrastructure Guarantee Credit Plc with 400 million units sold for N1.2 billion.

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Economy

Mobile-First Platforms Like DeFi Hash Reflect Growing Investor Interest in AI-Driven Cloud Infrastructure and Automated Digital Asset Engagement

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DeFi Hash

As the cryptocurrency market enters a new phase of global growth, investor behavior is moving beyond the “buy and hold” strategy common in previous cryptocurrency cycles. Across the digital asset industry, a growing number of users are exploring AI-driven cloud infrastructure, automated computing systems, and mobile-based digital engagement models.

Industry analysts say the convergence of AI and blockchain infrastructure is becoming one of the defining trends of 2026.

With the accelerating global demand for AI computing resources, technology companies around the world are investing heavily in cloud infrastructure, data centers, and intelligent automation systems. Meanwhile, blockchain-based infrastructure platforms are increasingly positioning themselves at the intersection of decentralized finance, cloud computing, and AI-driven resource management.

Among the many emerging platforms, DeFi Hash is attracting significant attention. DeFi Hash is a mobile-centric digital infrastructure platform focused on intelligent cloud computing services and automated infrastructure engagement.

The Transition to AI-Driven Digital Infrastructure

For years, many cryptocurrency investors have relied primarily on market appreciation and speculative trading opportunities. However, the evolving market environment and the rapid development of artificial intelligence are prompting a shift towards infrastructure-centric platforms that offer alternative participation models.

Users no longer need to purchase expensive mining hardware or manage physical systems; instead, they are increasingly seeking simplified, mobile-accessible solutions for remote participation in digital infrastructure.

DeFi Hash states that its platform aims to lower traditional barriers to entry by combining cloud architecture, automation, and distributed infrastructure systems to create a seamless user experience. These platforms are accessible via mobile devices and web platforms.

According to company information, the platform has attracted over 3.5 million registered users globally.

Flexible Participation Options

To encourage new user onboarding and streamline the access process, DeFi Hash offers various infrastructure participation models and cloud-based automated contracts.

The company states that new registered users receive promotional rewards upon registration and can participate in an entry-level program designed for short-term participation.

The platform also offers various infrastructure contract categories designed to meet the needs of different participation levels.

Stable Return Contracts

Contract Range: $500 – $2,600

Estimated Daily Return: $6.25 – $36.40

Contract Duration: 7 – 15 days

Estimated Total Return: $43 – $546

Professional Profit Contracts

Contract Range: $5,000 – $15,000

Estimated Daily Return: $77.50 – $270

Contract Duration: 20 – 25 days

Estimated Total Return: $1,550 – $6,750

Advanced Long-Term Profit Contracts

Contract Range: $30,000 – $150,000

Estimated Daily Return: $570 – $3,750

Contract Duration: 30 – 45 days

Estimated Total Return: $17,100 – $168,750

The company states that users can choose one or more participation options based on their own strategies and goals.

The convergence of artificial intelligence and blockchain is expected to accelerate.

Industry insiders believe that the integration of artificial intelligence infrastructure and blockchain-based computing networks may become one of the most influential technological developments in the coming years.

With the global proliferation of artificial intelligence, the demand for scalable computing resources and automated digital infrastructure services is expected to continue to grow. Platforms integrating blockchain, cloud computing, and intelligent automation technologies will play an increasingly important role in shaping the future digital economy.

DeFi Hash states that its goal is to make cloud projects more accessible to ordinary users worldwide while continuously expanding its AI-driven infrastructure ecosystem.

For more information, please visit the company website or mobile app download page.

Official Website: https://defihash.com/

Mobile App Download: https://defihash.com/download/

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