Author: Ogochukwu Ndubuisi

Wema Bank Launches N150bn Right Issues for N10.45 Ahead of the recapitalization deadline, Wema Bank Plc has announced the commencement of its capital raising exercise scheduled to begin April 14, 2025, the tier-2 lender said in a regulatory filing. In compliance with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) recapitalization directive, the bank said it seeks to undertake a rights issue of 14,286,785,417 ordinary shares of 50 kobo each on the basis of two (2) new ordinary shares for every three (3) ordinary shares, which is to be issued at N10.45 per share. “This is a key step that will consolidate…

Nigeria Eurobonds Yield Pulls Back as Offshore Demand Improves Nigeria’s Eurobonds yield pulled back to 11.08% in the international market as offshore or foreign portfolio investors’ sentiment improved after the U.S. government paused tariffs implementation for 90 days. The global markets were rattled by US reciprocal tariffs, which resulted in a minimum of 10.0% import tariffs on over 180 countries. China and a few other countries initiated counter-tariff responses to drive the world economy into another trade war. The consequence of the implied uncertainty cascaded into material demand concerns and weakened the outlook for commodities. Consequently, the Brent crude oil…

Nigerian Bonds Yield Rises to 18.9% Ahead of Q2 Supply The secondary market for FGN bonds closed on a negative note, with the average yield edging up by a basis point to 18.86%, reflecting mild bearish sentiment ahead of the second quarter of 2025 supply. Trading activity in the local bonds market remained subdued with a slightly negative bias, as sellers dominated the short-to-mid tenor segment—especially on the Apr 2029, Feb 2031, and May 2033 papers. There were few selloffs on the long end of the curve, where investors sold off the JUN-53 (+31 bps). Across the benchmark curve, the…

Naira Mixed as FPIs Exit Heats Up FX Demand, Spot Rates Unify The naira depreciated against the US dollar in the official window as foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) that have been moving funds into safe havens continue to put pressure on the local currency. The black market rate, however, appreciated. In the Nigerian forex market, the Naira depreciated by 1.13%, closing at ₦1,629.94 per US dollar amidst unending intervention by the Central Bank. Similarly, the Naira ended the day at ₦1,630 per dollar in the parallel market. The gap between official and parallel market rates narrowed sharply to 6 kobo…

We’ve Disbursed $50bn into Nigeria in Last Decade- Afreximbank The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) says it has disbursed 50 billion dollars into various sectors of Nigeria in the last 10 years. Prof. Benedict Oramah disclosed this at the commissioning of the Afreximbank African Trade Centre (AATC) in Abuja on Thursday. Oramah said the sectors included energy, infrastructure, manufacturing, healthcare, transport, and financial services. He added that in the last 10 years,  the bank’s support to the Nigerian financial services industry amounted to 19 billion dollars. “This has helped to deepen and expand the sector and elevate their impact on the…

Court Strikes Out Nnamdi Kanu’s N50bn Suit Against FG The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday, struck out a N50 billion suit filed by Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), against the Federal Government. Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a ruling, struck out the suit for lack of diligent prosecution. When the matter was called on Thursday, neither Kanu nor the Federal Government was represented by any lawyer. Justice Ekwo observed that in the last adjourned day, while no lawyer was in court for the IPOB leader, the Federal Government was represented in court by…

33 States at High Risk of Flooding- NIHSA Warns The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) has warned that 1,249 communities across 176 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in 33 states and the FCT fall within the high flood-risk areas in 2025. The warning was issued during the official presentation of the 2025 Annual Flood Outlook (AFO) by the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, in Abuja. According to the forecast, an additional 2,187 communities in 293 LGAs across 31 states and the FCT are expected to experience moderate flood risk this year. States identified in the high-risk category…

Zenith Bank Crosses N2trn Ahead of Annual Meeting, Dividend Payment Zenith Bank Plc’s market value crossed N2 trillion in a latest rally that saw the financial services group’s share price up by more than 4% to N49.2 on the Nigerian Exchange. Demand for the bank’s stock heated up in the local bourse on Thursday as impressed investors geared up for the annual general meeting and dividend payment. According to details obtained from the Nigerian bourse, Zenith Bank’s share price increased by 402 basis points as more than 30.204 million units valued at N1.446 billion exchanged hands in the market. After…

Court Dismisses Rights Enforcement Suit Filed by 161 Chinese, Nigerians Against EFCC The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday, dismissed a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed against EFCC by at least 161 Chinese and Nigerians who are being investigated on alleged internet fraud. Justice James Omotosho, in a judgment, dismissed the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/80/2025/ for being unmeritorious. Justice Omotosho held that the arrest of the suspects and their detention from Jan. 9 and beyond, upon two remand orders obtained by the anti-graft agency to enable it conclude its investigation, did not amount to a breach of their rights. The…

AfDB President Pledges Investment in C’ River’s Health, Agriculture Sectors Dr Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), has pledged significant investment in Cross River State’s health and agriculture sectors. Adesina made this commitment on Thursday during a state banquet held in his honour by the Cross River government, in connection with the launch of the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) project. He stated that the AfDB would support Gov. Bassey Otu’s efforts to revitalise primary healthcare centres and strengthen the state’s health insurance initiative. Adesina also encouraged the adoption of a sustainable, franchise-based business model for healthcare…