Author: Ogochukwu Ndubuisi

Starmer’s Speech a Decisive Test for Bond Markets, Investors UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s keynote speech at the Labour Party conference today is being watched by investors, businesses and global bond markets with acute attention, warns financial advisory giant deVere Group’s CEO Nigel Green. He says: “This is not just another party conference address. It’s a make-or-break moment for credibility. “Bond markets, already charging the UK a premium to borrow, will immediately reprice if they sense a repeat of the policy missteps of recent years, specifically the Truss-era. This would raise costs for the government, for companies, and for households.”…

NELFUND Closes Portal For 2024/2025 Loan The Nigerian Education Loan Fund said the application portal for the 2024/2025 academic session will officially close on Tuesday. An update by the agency on X said the move was to conclude processing of pending applications and upkeep payments. It also announced timelines for the 2025/2026 academic cycle to expand access to higher education through interest-free student loans. The loan portal will reopen in the second week of October for fresh applications and remain open until January 2026. ”NELFUND remains committed to removing financial barriers for students and working with institutions to ensure that…

Nigerian Exchange Soars as Equity Investors Gain N155bn The equity segment of the Nigerian Exchange opened the new week on a positive trajectory, extending the positive momentum that boosted year-to-date (YTD) return to 38.33%. With investors taking on additional risk on stocks, the Nigerian bourse key performance indicators surge by 0.17% as investors take positions in stocks with upside fundamentals. Stockbrokers said the upbeat performance despite a negative breadth, resulting from higher losers than gainers. Investors showed interest in large-cap and moderately priced stocks across market sectors, underscoring growing investor confidence in the domestic bourse. The All-Share Index increased by…

UN Sanctions: Iran Moves to Exit Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty The Iranian parliament is preparing legislation that could see the country withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in response to the reinstatement of UN sanctions. Ebrahim Resaei, the spokesman for parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, said on Monday that legislative body has settled on a draft legislative text. The parliamentary move comes after Israeli and U.S. attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities in June and the reactivation of UN sanctions over the weekend. “Under these circumstances, the parliament sees no reason for Iran to remain an NPT member,” Resaei…

Trump Plans 100% Tariffs on Movies from Other Countries The United States president Donald Trump has revealed plan to impose 100% tariffs on imported movies to drive American economy entertainment industry’s growth. In a disclosure on its Truth handle, the president said, “Our movie making business has been stolen from the United States of America, by other Countries, just like stealing “candy from a baby.” California, with its weak and incompetent Governor, has been particularly hard hit! Therefore, in order to solve this long time, never ending problem, I will be imposing a 100% Tariff on any and all movies…

NUPRC Chief Komolafe Seeks Dialogue in Dangote, PENGASSAN Dispute Mr Gbenga Komolafe, Chief Executive, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), has called for dialogue between Dangote Refinery and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN). Komolafe made the call in a statement on Sunday, adding that the step was necessary to to resolve ongoing dispute. He also urged the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), and parties involved to find common ground to resolve their differences without disrupting energy supply nationwide. The unions have been locked in labour disputes with Dangote Refinery over…

FG Secures N250bn for Kaduna, Kano Light Rail Projects – Idris The Federal Government (FG) has secured about N250 billion for the development of light rail projects in Kaduna and Kano states. The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris made this known on Monday in Abuja at a world press conference on Nigeria’s 65th Independent Anniversary celebrations. The minister said President Bola Tinubu is interested in seeing massive development at the sub-national levels. “Contrary to the perception being pushed at some quarters, this administration has demonstrated uncommon commitment to balanced and inclusive development since assuming office. “The…

Mass Dismissal: TUC Demands Public Apology from Dangote Refinery The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has asked the management of the Dangote Petrochemical Refinery to tender an open apology to the group for the dismissal of more than 800 Nigerian workers. While appearing on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Monday, the Secretary General of TUC, Nuhu Toro, noted that the refinery violated the sacked workers’ constitutional rights. The TUC Chief was reacting to the disagreement between the refinery and the Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) over unionisation. “The Dangote and PENGASSAN rift concerns the TUC because…

Equatorial Guinea, ConocoPhillips Sign HOA for Offshore Blocks Equatorial Guinea has signed a Heads of Agreement (HOA) with energy major ConocoPhillips for Blocks B/4 and EG-27 in a move set to unlock up to $9 billion in investments. The HOA outlines the terms for both blocks development and aims to reinforce the country’s position as a regional gas processing hub. As the country advances its national strategy to accelerate upstream growth and bring new production online, the HOA is seen as a pivotal step towards bolstering natural gas monetization in Central Africa. Signed between ConocoPhillips, Equatorial Guinea’s Ministry of Hydrocarbons…

Reeves Faces Hardest Day, Tax Hikes Loom for November Budget UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves is under intense pressure at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool on Monday, where she must reassure her party and the markets that she can both hold the line on fiscal discipline and answer calls to outflank the populist right. The political tension is unmistakable. With borrowing costs at a decade high and a £20 billion gap in the public finances, the Chancellor is confronting an unforgiving arithmetic. Yields on ten-year gilts hover near 4.75%, the steepest among the G7, tightening the screws…