Author: Olu Anisere

Olu Anisere is a financial and economic journalist at MarketForces Africa, specialising in African macroeconomic policy, international finance, energy markets, and continental development.He covers major multilateral institutions, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), providing readers with frontline reporting on policies shaping Africa's economic trajectory.Olu has reported extensively on Nigeria's fiscal and monetary policy landscape, including CBN interest rate decisions, Nigeria's bond market, FX inflows, and the country's engagement with global financial institutions.His coverage spans IMF and World Bank Spring and Annual Meetings, African Ministers of Finance conferences, and high-level economic forums where Africa's development agenda is set.His reporting captures perspectives from Africa's most influential economic voices, including Tony Elumelu, senior IMF officials, and CBN leadership, bringing institutional insight and policy depth to MarketForces Africa's readers.Olu also covers Inside Africa — tracking economic, investment, and development stories from across the continent. Olu Anisere is based in Lagos, Nigeria.

NPA Establishes Export Process Terminal to Simplify Nigerian Goods Exportation The Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) says it has established the Export Process Terminal (EPTs) to simplify the process of exporting Nigerian goods. The Principal Manager Tariff and Billing, Mr Asuquo Okon, made the disclosure during the NPA’s special day at the ongoing Enugu International Trade Fair in Enugu on Thursday. Okon said EPTs were conceptualised to serve as a one-stop-shop of cargo consolidation, stuffing, documentation, packaging, certification and onward shipment through electronic call-up of the Ports in quick turnaround time. He hinted that the intervention was to eliminate duplications and…

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Traditional European Banks Under Pressure as Neobanks Expand Europe’s traditional banks are said to be heading into tougher times, according to a report by Strategy& the strategy consultancy arm of global accounting firm PwC as reported on Thursday. Analysts cite two main challenges which include the fading boost from higher interest rates and mounting pressure from digital-only challengers like neobanks, modern alternatives to traditional banks which usually have no physical branches. The study focused solely on retail banking. Profits at European banks raised another four per cent in 2024, mainly due to higher interest rates. The costs also increased by…

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LCCI, Confederation of Indian Industry Mull Partnership for Economic Growth The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has mulled defence, agriculture, pharmaceuticals and technology sectors partnership for economic growth. Mr Gabriel Idahosa, President, LCCI, at the Nigeria-India Business-to-Business Meeting in held in Lagos on Thursday, said the collaboration poised to unlock the immense potential of both countries. Idahosa revealed that Nigeria and India had a history of cooperation in defense, characterised by knowledge exchange and capacity building. He noted that security was the bedrock upon which economic prosperity was built, and that…

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Nigeria Needs 40% Growth to Withstand U.S. Tariff Shock – Yemi Kale An economist, Dr. Yemi Kale, says Nigeria requires 40 per cent annual growth rate to cushion the potential negative impact of the United States’ (U.S.) recent tariff hike on its one trillion dollar economic growth vision.Kale, who is the Group Chief Economist and Managing Director, Research and Trade Intelligence, Afreximbank, said this on Wednesday in Lagos at the 2025 Vanguard Discourse. He urged the government to implement policies that foresee and mitigate the impact of the U.S. tariff hike on Nigerian exports. He called for sustainable reforms that…

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DMO Needs to Hike Rates to Keep Foreign Investors – Investment Firm With the latest round of foreign portfolio investors rotating out of naira-priced assets, Nigeria’s top investment banking firm has advised the Debt Office to increase spot rates and fully roll over maturing bills. Naira yields have fallen, thus reducing offshore investors’ initial excitement to bring a flood of US dollars into the Nigerian debt market.  The fixed income market situation worsened in the recent past week as foreign investors sought flight to safety amidst the US-initiated global trade isolation policy. Much of the worry about Nigeria is about…

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Afreximbank to Establish Trade Centres in Africa’s Commercial Capitals The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is setting up trade centres in several major commercial capitals across Africa and the Caribbean as part of its efforts to boost intra-African trade. Dr Robert Tomusange, Director and Global Head of Real Estate and Administration for Anglophone West Africa at Afreximbank, disclosed this while briefing the media on Thursday in Abuja. He said the trade centres, dubbed “The Afreximbank – African Trade Centres (AATCs),” were designed to promote economic diversification and bridge the gap in trade information and facilitation services across the continent. He said…

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Oil Prices Pull Back amidst U.S.–China Tariffs Face Off Oil prices retreated in the market amidst a U.S. tariffs pause. President Donald Trump announced a 90-day pause for countries hit by higher US tariffs, but a trade war with China has escalated. In a dramatic change of policy, just hours after levies against roughly 60 of America’s trading partners kicked in, Trump said he was authorising a universal “lowered reciprocal tariff of 10%” as negotiations continued. At the same time, he increased tariffs on goods from China to 125%, accusing Beijing of a “lack of respect” after it retaliated by…

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Unilever Nigeria Dips 9.8% Ahead of Qualification Date Unilever Nigeria Plc dipped by 9.75% to close at N34.75 in the equities segment of the Nigerian Exchange as investors offloaded the consumer goods stock in the latest market rout. The market valued Unilever Nigeria’s 5.745 billion shares at N199.351 billion following a share price depreciation. The consumer goods company share price slipped in the equities market as more than 2.44 million units valued at N84.736 million exchanged hands in the local bourse. The selloff was driven by investors’ weak sentiment in the market. Ticker: Unilever Nigeria’s price has been steadied at…

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Nigeria to Launch e-Visa, Digital Cards Mr Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, says the Federal Government will launch an e-visa system and digital landing/exit cards to enhance national security. He disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja when he received a delegation led by the Minister of Interior, Mr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo. According to Keyamo, the e-visa system will enable applicants to submit visa requests online and upload required documents electronically. He added that the manual landing and exit cards would be digitalised, requiring visitors to pre-fill their information before travelling to Nigeria. “What we are doing here today…

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