General
Nigeria’s Unemployment Rate Rises 5.3% in Q1 2024
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Tuesday said the unemployment rate in Nigeria increased to 5.3 per cent in the first quarter of 2024 from 5.0 per cent in the third quarter of 2023.
The organisation stated further that the unemployment rate among males was 4.3 per cent and 6.2 per cent among females, and by place of residence, it was 6.0 per cent in urban areas and 4.3 per cent in rural areas for Q1 2024.
Looking at the youth, the youth unemployment rate was 8.4 per cent in Q1 2024, showing a decrease from 8.6 per cent in Q3 2023.
In a report released yesterday, the agency disclosed that the unemployment rate among persons with post-secondary education stood at 9.0 per cent in the period under review, while the unemployment rate among persons between the ages of 15 and 24 was 8.4 per cent in the first three months of this year, lower than the 8.6 per cent reported in Q3 of 2023.
The NBS revealed in the report that in Q1 of 2024, 73.2 per cent of Nigeria’s working-age population was employed compared with the 75.6 per cent recorded in Q3 of 2023.
It stated that disaggregating by sex, the employment-to-population ratio was 74.2 per cent for males and 72.3 per cent for females in the period under review.
Additionally, the employment-to-population ratio in urban areas was 69.5 per cent and 78.9 per cent in rural areas in Q1 2024 versus 71.1 per cent and 80.7 per cent in Q3 2023, respectively.
The stats office noted that between January and March 2024, about 92.7 million of the Nigerian population engaged in informal employment, stating that females were more likely to be in informal employment than males, adding that the rate of informal employment among rural dwellers was 97.6 per cent while the urban informality rate was 89.0 per cent.
It stated that the proportion of persons in self-employment declined from 86 per cent in Q1 2023 to 84 per cent in Q1 2024, noting that the self-employment rate among females was 87.9 per cent while males was 79.9 per cent and by place of residence, the rate of self-employed persons in rural areas was 91.9 per cent and 78.2 per cent in urban areas.
General
Transcorp Power Trims Debts by 18% to Strengthen Financial Position
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
To strengthen its financial position and demonstrate disciplined financial management and commitment, Transcorp Power Plc paid down over N7 billion in borrowings in 2025, according to its audited financial results for last year.
Business Post reports that this action reduced its total borrowings by 18.57 per cent to N30.7 billion from N37.7 billion as of December 2024.
This happened as the subsidiary of Transcorp Plc grew its revenue for the year by 30 per cent to N398.27 billion from N305.94 billion achieved in FY 2024, with the gross profit up by 14 per cent on a year-on-year basis to N162.44 billion from N142.21 billion, and the Profit After Tax (PAT) rising by 14 per cent to N91.42 billion from N80.01 billion in 2024, as the Earnings per Share (EPS) went up to N12.19 from N10.67 in 2024.
In the year, total assets jumped by 42 per cent to N563.48 billion from N396.78 billion in FY 2024, and total equity rose by 44 per cent to N183.40 billion from N126.63 billion.
It was observed that the impressive performance of the company was driven by an enhanced generation capacity, with saw the return of GT20, adding 100MW to the national grid from January 3, 2025, which significantly improved overall generation output.
“We remain dedicated to improving lives and transforming Africa, ensuring operational excellence and making strategic investments that deliver sustainable, long-term value to our shareholders, while also powering Nigeria’s socioeconomic development,” the chairman of Transcorp Power, Mr Emmanuel Nnorom, stated.
“The confidence in our financial position allows us to propose a full year dividend of N5.50 per share for 2025, comprising an interim dividend of N1.50 paid on August 18, 2025, and a final of N4.00k, representing a 10 per cent increase from the previous year’s dividend,” he added.
Also commenting, the chief executive of the power generation firm, Mr Peter Ikenga, said, “Our FY 2025 results reflect our steadfast commitment to operational excellence, sustainable growth, strategic market expansion and enhanced generation capacity, which continue to fuel significant revenue growth, enabling us to consistently generate power to the national grid. During the year, we increased our average available capacity from 417MW to 550MW and improved average generation output despite grid and transmission line-related issues.”
“Notwithstanding the network transmission line issues, our FY 2025 performance remained strong and reflects our steadfast commitment to operational excellence and sustainable growth.
“Our confidence in the future trajectory of Transcorp Power to deliver exceptional value to our shareholders remains unwavering. We will continue to work with relevant stakeholders, particularly Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), to strengthen the transmission lines and improve evacuation from our plant in 2026 and beyond,” he added.
General
NIMASA Mulls Expansion of Nigeria’s Deep Blue Project
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) is considering expanding the country’s Deep Blue Project due to its perceived success, with impact felt across the Gulf of Guinea, where it has helped to reduce piracy massively and gained global recognition, to ensure sustainability and greater impact.
The Director General of NIMASA, Mr Dayo Mobereola, made this known during his strategic visit to the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abass, at the Naval Headquarters, Abuja.
Mr Mobereola, while commending the Navy for the harmonious collaboration with NIMASA and congratulating the CNS who had previously served as Maritime Guard Commander under the agency, called for continued partnership with the security outfit under his watch.
“It is important that we continue our partnership and strengthen our relationship. Our purpose here is to congratulate you and to discuss the benefits of the Deep Blue Project, how to sustain it, expand it, and increase its impact on the Gulf of Guinea.
“We are confident that we have the backing of the President, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, and the Nigerian Navy, hence, we are working towards presenting our proposal on the necessary improvements to be undertaken,” he stated.
The DG acknowledged the importance of the Deep Blue Project, noting that its impact resonates globally, with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) commending it.
“The Deep Blue Project is vital, and countries around Africa and some other parts of the world are coming to copy our model. The IMO is asking how a civilian organisation was able to achieve this feat. It is therefore important that we continue to collaborate and do even better for greater sustainability,” he said.
Mr Mobereola also congratulated the Chief of Operations, Nigerian Navy, Rear Admiral Musa Katagum, who is joining the NIMASA governing board as the Navy’s representative.
On his part, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abass, while welcoming the NIMASA DG and his delegation, commended the Agency for the good work it is doing in the maritime sector and its continued support to the Nigerian Navy.
“Part of my command’s objective is to work in synergy with other agencies to achieve our goal as a country. We complement each other. We have no option but to collaborate and synergise.”
The Naval chief noted some concerns, which include the MoU between NIMASA and the Nigerian Navy, which has been in place since 2007 and should be revisited.
He also solicited for the Navy to be called upon for such needs as vessel repair, hydrographic surveys and chartings, stating the Navy’s capacity in handling such tasks.
The CNS also canvassed NIMASA’s assistance for wreck removal, particularly as the Navy gears towards its 70th Anniversary, where it looks forward to welcoming foreign ships.
He further commended NIMASA for its recent launch of the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF) Application Portal, noting that the organisation has come a long way in its planned disbursement of the fund.
General
Ikeja Electric Fumes Over Impropriety Allegations Against CEO, Chairman
By Adedapo Adesanya
Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company has described as malicious and misleading a widespread publication currently circulating online alleging impropriety about its chief executive, Ms Folake Soetan, and its board chairman, Mr Kola Adesina.
The management of the DisCo noted that a publication attributed to ‘Nigerian Global Business Forum’ defamed its CEO and the chairman of the IKEDC board.
The company said, “The publication, attributed to yet to be verified individuals and organisation, is clearly intended to misinform the public and bring the company and its leadership into disrepute through fabricated claims, the DisCo observed.”
Ikeja Electric noted that its investigation so far revealed that the ‘Nigerian Global Business Forum’ is an unregistered organisation with no recognised legal or corporate existence locally or abroad.
According to the energy firm, the signatories, “Dr Alaba Kalejaiye” and “Musa Ahmed,” have no verifiable professional credentials or established public profiles, and the publication contains false and misleading statements regarding Ikeja Electric’s operations, safety record, and financial practices.
The organisation said it had instructed its legal advisers to conduct a thorough forensic investigation and to initiate defamation proceedings against the authors, publishers, and any persons or entities found responsible for sponsoring or disseminating this malicious publication.
Ikeja Electric said it operates within a strict framework of accountability and remains committed to transparency and service improvement, warning it will not tolerate coordinated disinformation campaigns aimed at undermining public confidence and tarnishing its corporate integrity.
“Ikeja Electric remains steadfast in its mandate to deliver reliable power while upholding the highest standards of corporate governance and customer excellence.
Members of the public are advised to disregard the false publication in its entirety,” it said in a statement.
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