Author: Julius Alagbe

Naira Climbs to N1441/$, Nigeria Sees Declining Blocked Fund The naira strengthened against the US dollar to $1441 on Thursday across both the official and unofficial currency markets as FX pressures eased.  The successive accretion into the nation’s external reserves continues to boost investors’ sentiment and reduce speculative trades sharply. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) continues to play hard with FX injection, though the tempo has slowed down as the naira continues to find fair value. The Nigerian foreign reserves data revealed that blocked funds—the country’s portion of reserves that are not immediately available for use is on decline…

Tinubu Pledges to Foster an Enabling Environment for Diaspora Engagement President Bola Tinubu’s administration is fully committed to creating an enabling environment where collaboration can thrive between the Nigerian diaspora and home country. Vice President Kashim Shettima, on Wednesday, said this at the on-going 2025 8th edition of the Nigeria Diaspora Investment Summit (NDIS) holding at the State House Conference Center, Presidential Villa Abuja. The event has as its theme; “Fast-Tracking Regional and National Development by Mobilising Diaspora Investment.” The event, which began on Nov 11, ends on Nov. 13. Shettima was represented by Amb. Dunoma Ahmed, the Permanent Secretary…

Nigeria, Quaint Energy Sign Deal to Deliver 8 Megawatts of Power The Federal Government of Nigeria and Quaint Energy on Wednesday in Abuja signed a concession agreement for the development of 6 Megawatt (MW) Ikere Gorge Hydropower Project in Oyo State. The agreement also included the 2MW Omi-Kampe Hydropower Project in Kogi. Speaking at the signing in Abuja, the Minister of Power, Mr Adebayo Adelabu, stated that the event marked an important milestone in the power stakeholders’ collective journey toward achieving a sustainable, reliable, and affordable power supply across Nigeria. He added that the partnership underscored the federal government’s unwavering…

Senate Dismisses Alleged Move to Impeach Akpabio The Senate, on Wednesday, moved swiftly to quell insulation on the alleged impeachment of President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, describing the reports as baseless and misleading. Speaking on the floor of the Senate, the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele emphasised that the claims had been “quoted out of context” and that there had been no discussion regarding the removal of Akpabio. Bamidele was reacting to Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu’s statement during a press briefing with journalists in Abuja on Tuesday. Kalu at the briefing had dismissed reports on the alleged move for Akpabio’s…

Zenith Bank Soars by 10% in Fresh Rally Zenith Bank Plc.’s market value soared by 10% on Wednesday as investors re-entered positions on the back of an improved sentiment. The Nigerian market recovered part of the huge losses posted in the past weeks as investors begin to reposition in companies with strong fundamentals. Banking index soared by more than 7%, fuelled by interest in Tier-1 names including Zenith Bank share which capped maximum daily gain as a result of increased market activities. Zenith Bank share price surged by 10% to N59.4 as 86.805 units valued at N5.156 billion were consummated,…

GCR Assigns BBB, A3(NG) to Pagatech Limited With Stable Outlook GCR Ratings has assigned to Pagatech Limited a national-scale long and short-term issuer ratings of BBB (NG) and A3 (NG), respectively, with a stable outlook. According to GCR, Pagatech’s ratings derive from the consolidated strengths and weaknesses of Paga Group Limited—a UK-headquartered fintech group with subsidiaries in Nigeria, Ethiopia, and recently, the USA. “Pagatech is the group’s flagship business as well as primary earnings generator currently; as such, the ratings assigned reflect the group’s creditworthiness in the absence of any tangible credit insulation”, ratings analysts said in a report on…

MTN Nigeria Plunges by 10% to N9.01trn as Sentiment Fades MTN Nigeria Plc’s stock market value plunged by 10% on Tuesday as investors dumped the telecom company shares again, reflecting negative sentiment ahead of an interim dividend payment in Nov. Trading data from the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) showed that MTN Nigeria (Ticker: MTNN) fell to N429.3 per share as 2.059 million units of the telecom company shares valued at N888.872 million were traded in the local bourse. The telecom company whose share price peaked at N520.1, its highest value in 52 weeks, has now lost approximately 17.5% after earnings fuelled…

SoftBank Sells Interest in Nvidia for $5.83bn, Dives into AI SoftBank has exited Nvidia for about $5.83 billion after reporting a €14 billion quarterly profit and said it will redirect capital into AI investments. Japanese multinational investment company SoftBank said it had sold its remaining stake in Nvidia for $5.83 billion (€5bn) as it pivots towards AI investments. SoftBank also reported stronger-than-expected earnings for the three months to 30 September, posting a net profit of ¥2.5 trillion or €14 billion, more than double the ¥1.18 trillion or €6.6 billion recorded a year earlier. The company’s earnings jump was fuelled by…

British Pound Weakens Amidst Oversold FX Projection The British pound, or the sterling, weakened to $1.31 on Tuesday after weaker-than-expected labour market data strengthened expectations of a Bank of England interest rate cut next month. In its most recent prediction, Standard Chartered anticipates that the GBP/USD exchange rate will rebound to $1.35. The bank believes the currency remains undervalued, which allows for additional increases as international investors close their short positions. It sees scope for gains to the 1.3500 area, but expects notable selling interest above this level, especially with ongoing concerns surrounding fiscal policy. The sterling came under pressure…

Nigeria’s Economy Stable, Attracting Investors, Accolades – Shettima Vice-President Kashim Shettima says the reforms undertaken by President Bola Tinubu’s administration are already stabilising the economy, inspiring investor’s confidence and attracting commendation from independent observers. Shettima said this on Tuesday in Abuja when he declared open the Digital Nigeria International Conference and Exhibition 2025. He also said that the administration of President Tinubu has succeeded in putting an end to the regimes of volatility and unpredictability that once characterised Nigeria’s economy. According to him, global economic uncertainties, “shocks, shifting alliances, and the rapid displacement of traditional jobs by emerging technologies” have…