Author: Gilbert Ayoola
CBN Pulls Plug on Aso Savings, Union Homes : Hard Reset for Mortgage Sub-Sector In a decisive regulatory sweep, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has revoked the operating licences of Aso Savings and Loans Plc and Union Homes Savings and Loans Plc, effectively ending the long-troubled runs of two once-prominent primary mortgage banks. The action, announced via an official press release, underscores the regulator’s zero-tolerance stance on weak capitalisation, poor governance, and persistent non-compliance within the financial system. The revocation was executed pursuant to Section 12 of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA) 2020 and Section 7.3…
Selling to Invest: Using Key Levels to Optimise Stock Market Returns One of the most misunderstood disciplines in equity investing is selling. Many investors view selling as an admission of error, when in reality, it is often the most deliberate and profitable decision in portfolio management. In efficient markets, wealth is not built solely by buying good stocks, but by selling them at technically and fundamentally optimal levels to redeploy capital into better opportunities. A disciplined approach to selling is anchored on key price levels areas of support, resistance, and valuation extremes. Lafarge Africa (Wapco) Plc provides a compelling case…
Market Wrap: Nigeria Bourse Swings, Investors Digest Disinflation The domestic financial market closed on a mixed note, reflecting cautious positioning by investors at the start of the trading week. Total fixed income market capitalisation inched higher by 0.03% to N50.73 trillion, underscoring steady demand for yield instruments. In contrast, equities closed flat at N95.26 trillion, with the All-Share Index (ASI) settling unchanged at 149,437.88 points, signalling equilibrium between mild profit-taking and selective bargain hunting. The marginal uptick in fixed income valuation points to sustained institutional interest, particularly as investors continue to rebalance portfolios in favour of relatively predictable returns. This…
What Disinflation Means for Equity, Fixed Income Securities and Capital Flows Nigeria’s headline inflation moderated to 14.45% in November 2025, easing from 16.05% in October 2025, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The deceleration reinforces a gradually improving macro-inflation narrative, even as short-term price pressures persist on a month-on-month basis. The development carries material implications for investor positioning across equities, money market instruments, and foreign capital flows. While the year-on-year headline print reflects a meaningful slowdown, month-on-month inflation rose to 1.22% in November, up from 0.93% in October, suggesting residual cost pressures likely from logistics,…
BUA Group Pays N30bn in Landmark Cash Awards to 510 Employees BUA Group has paid out an unprecedented N30 billion in cash awards to 510 employees at its 2025 Night of Excellence and Long Service Awards, marking one of the largest employee reward initiatives ever undertaken by a Nigerian private-sector company. The programme recognised staff members whose service spans from five years to more than four decades, underscoring BUA’s long-held philosophy that sustainable enterprise value is built primarily on human capital rather than balance sheets alone. Speaking at the event, Founder and Executive Chairman, Abdul Samad Rabiu, CFR, CON, reflected…
Dangote Refinery Laying Groundwork for Landmark Public Offers As plans for the eventual public listing of Dangote Refinery take clearer shape, the signals emerging from the group point to a carefully sequenced capital-markets strategy rather than a rushed flotation. The reported consideration of British executive David Bird as a possible chief executive underscores this intent: institutionalising governance, deepening operational credibility, and aligning the $20 billion refinery with the expectations of global portfolio capital ahead of its debut on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX). From an investor’s standpoint, the refinery represents an asset of uncommon scale and strategic relevance. With current installed…
Morison Industries Extends 3-Day Rally Amidst Earnings Pressure Morison Industries Plc extended its upward trajectory for the third consecutive session, as renewed buying interest and improving sentiment around its fundamentals continued to fuel demand. The stock sustained notable momentum throughout the week, closing strongly and edging closer to its 52-week high, reinforcing bullish undertones in the near term. The stock opened at N4.27 on Friday against the backdrop of continued positive movement. Intraday trading was largely bullish, with Morison gaining 0.42 kobo to finish the session at N4.69, rounding off the week with strong market participation. On a trend basis,…
Nigeria’s Digital Transformation: Building a Resilient, Inclusive, and Future-Ready Economy Nigeria’s long-term economic competitiveness increasingly hinges on its capacity to harness digital technologies as engines of productivity, innovation, and shared prosperity. In a global economy where the wealth of nations flows from the technologies they master, Nigeria’s commitment to digital transformation signals both an economic imperative and a strategic repositioning. Digitalisation is not just an upgrade, it is fast becoming the backbone of national development, shaping how Nigerians learn, trade, innovate, govern, and connect with the world. The European Union’s recent announcement of a €45 million investment under the EU–Nigeria…
PZ’s Strategic Re-Orientation Catalyses Renewed Market Confidence In a dramatic reversal of its previously declared Africa exit strategy, PZ Cussons Plc has officially scrapped plans to divest its African subsidiaries. A decision first signalled during its 2024 strategic review opting instead to retain and expand its operations across key markets in Nigeria, Kenya, and Ghana. The board’s revised position underscores renewed confidence in improving economic fundamentals and more stable currency dynamics in Nigeria, which have materially reshaped the company’s risk-reward calculus. Initially, the Group contemplated a full or partial sale of its African business amid macroeconomic headwinds particularly FX volatility,…
Nigeria’s Trade Momentum Signposts Strengthening Economic Recovery Nigeria’s total merchandise trade surged to N38.9 trillion in Q3 2025, according to fresh data from the National Bureau of Statistics. The figure marks a significant milestone in the country’s post-pandemic economic recalibration and underscores the resilience of Africa’s largest economy amid ongoing structural reforms. The latest trade value represents an 8.71% increase from the N35.8 trillion recorded in the same period of 2024 and a 2.36% expansion relative to N38.04 trillion posted in Q2 2025. This upward momentum highlights not only improved trade flows but also strengthening domestic output capacity and rising…