Business

Elections: Capital Market Operators Project Gradual Equities Rebound

Published

11 years ago

April 1, 2015

Closed shops at area ten shoping complex in Abuja last Monday. Photo: NAN

Some capital market operators have expressed optimism that the nation’s capital market would experience a boost with the near successful conduct of the Presidential and National Assembly elections.
They told newsmen in separate interviews in Lagos that peaceful conduct of the election would increase investors’ confidence in the market.
Alhaji Rasheed Yussuf, immediate President, Association of Stockbroking Houses of Nigeria (ASHON), said that anxiety surrounding the general elections would reduce with the outcome of March 28 polls.
Yussuf said that the market had started reacting positively to the outcome of the elections, noting that more investors would embrace the market.
“It is a good thing that the presidential election, which is more critical, has come and gone without violence,” he said.
Yussuf said that the outcome of the election had shown that there would be Nigeria after the elections, noting that the tempo should be maintained.
He said that the market would react more positively once a winner was declared because there was no major violence.
“Anxieties surrounding the general elections will be subdued because there was no major riot or violence,” Yussuf said.
Mr Olaleye Williams, the Managing Director, GlobalView Consult & Investment Ltd., said that the market would witness increased activities if the tempo would be maintained.
Williams said that local and foreign investors that exited the market due to election anxieties would return to the market.
He stated that the development would increase activities of speculators in the market, to make quick return in the next couple of days.
Meanwhile, a turnover of 2.51 billion shares worth N24.12 billion were exchanged in 19,971 deals last week against 1.38 billion shares valued N12.05 billion traded in 16,877 deals in the preceding week.
The Financial Services Industry led the activity chart with 2.19 billion shares worth N14.14 billion achieved in 12,589 deals.
The conglomerates sector followed with a turnover of 161.71 million shares worth N1.09 billion traded in 1,223 deals.
The third place was occupied by the Consumer Goods Industry with 67.49 million shares worth N7.16 billion transacted in 2,516 deals.
NAN reports that the All-Share Index last week rose by 1228.7 points or 4.19 per cent to close at 30,562.93 compared with 29,334.23 points posted in the corresponding week due to price appreciation.
Also, the market capitalisation improved by N530 billion to close at N10.319 trillion against N9.789 trillion achieved in the previous week.
Dangote Flour Mills led the gainers’ table for the week, appreciating by 27.59 per cent or 80k to close at N3.70 per share.
Champion Breweries followed with a gain of 23.84 per cent or N1.23 to close at N6.39, while Forte Oil Plc increased by 18.33 per cent or N34.84 to close at N224.89 per share.
Conversely, UBA Capital topped the losers’ chart in percentage terms, shedding 21.82 per cent or 36k to close at N1.29 per share.
UAC trailed with a loss of 10.97 per cent or N3.95 to close at N32.05, while Sterling Bank declined by 8.30 per cent or 19k to close at N2.10 per share.

Business

Agency Gives Insight Into Its Inspection, Monitoring Operations

Published

4 days ago

January 12, 2026

The Tide

The Director, South South Zone National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Pharmacist Chujwuma P.Oligbu has said its thorough implementation of its core mandate of monitoring has no link with witch-hunting or fault finding as perceived at some quarters.

Oligbu, made this known when he spoke as as guest at the maiden Rivers state Supermarkets stakeholders’ Seminar/Workshop in Port Harcourt recently.

Rather, he said they were mere opportunities for education, correction and continuous improvement.

The Agency’s South South Boss, noted that Supermarket operators who maintain transparent records, cooperate during inspections, and promptly address identified gaps demonstrate professionalism and commitment to public health standard.

He listed the deserving essence of supermarket operation to include the key aspects of supermarket operation that deserves emphasis is product sourcing.

“Supermarkets must ensure that all regulated products stocked on their shelves are duly registered with NAFDAC and sourced from legitimate manufacturers or distributors”, he said .

According to him, the presence of unregistered, expired, counterfeit, or improper labelled products undermines consumer confidence and poses serious health risks.

He pointed out that such has the likelihood of exposeing supermarket operators to legal sanctions that could damage their reputation and financial stability.

The NAFDAC Operator, further enlightened the participants that mere registration of a particular product with the Federal agency do not guarantee absolute consumption safety.

“Temperature control, cleanliness, pest control, stock rotation, and proper shelving are not optional practice; they are essential components of compliance”, he said.

The South South zonal director also told the operators of supermarket that their employees rotine training on the basis of the product they display for sale is of utmost importance.

In her presentation a Breast Milk Nutrition Expert , Professor Alice Nte of University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), was against the body’s prime attention to breast milk substitute or baby milk in supermarkets as well as its advertisement or promotion.

Nye jerked up the importance of mothers breast milk to the newborn baby and added that it help in fighting against childhood diseases, infections and combating cancer in breastfeeding mothers.

Meanwhile, NAFDAC Deputy Director, South – South Zone , Mrs. Riter Chujwuma educated the participants on the guidelines for global listing, and the need to adhere strictly to rules guiding global listing to avoid confiscation of their imported products.

By: King Onunwor

Business

BVN Enrolments Rise 6% To 67.8m In 2025 — NIBSS

Published

4 days ago

January 12, 2026

The Tide

The Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) has said that Bank Verification Number (BVN) enrolments rose by 6.8 per cent year-on-year to 67.8 million as at December 2025, up from 63.5 million recorded in the corresponding period of 2024.

In a statement published on its website, NIBSS attributed the growth to stronger policy enforcement by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the expansion of diaspora enrolment initiatives.

According to the data, more than 4.3 million new BVNs were issued within the one-year period, underscoring the growing adoption of biometric identification as a prerequisite for accessing financial services in Nigeria.

NIBSS noted that the expansion reinforces the BVN system’s central role in Nigeria’s financial inclusion drive and digital identity framework.

Analysts linked the growth largely to regulatory measures by the CBN, particularly the directive to restrict or freeze bank accounts without both a BVN and National Identification Number (NIN), which took effect from April 2024.

The policy compelled many customers to regularise their biometric records to retain access to banking services.

Another major driver, the statement said, was the rollout of the Non-Resident Bank Verification Number (NRBVN) initiative, which allows Nigerians in the diaspora to obtain a BVN remotely without physical presence in the country.

The programme has been widely regarded as a milestone in integrating the diaspora into Nigeria’s formal financial system.

A five-year analysis by NIBSS showed consistent growth in BVN enrolments, rising from 51.9 million in 2021 to 56.0 million in 2022, 60.1 million in 2023, 63.5 million in 2024 and 67.8 million by December 2025. The steady increase reflects stronger compliance with biometric identity requirements and improved coverage of the national banking identity system.

However, NIBSS noted that BVN enrolments still lag the total number of active bank accounts, which exceeded 320 million as of March 2025.

The gap, it explained, is largely due to multiple bank accounts linked to single BVNs, as well as customers yet to complete enrolment, despite the progress recorded.

Business

AFAN Unveils Plans To Boost Food Production In 2026

Published

7 days ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

The leadership of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) has set the tone for the new year with a renewed focus on food security, unity and long-term growth of the agricultural sector.

The association announced that its General Assembly of Farmers Congress will take place from January 15 to 17, 2026 at the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industries, along Lugbe Airport Road, in the Federal Capital Territory.

The gathering is expected to bring together farmers, policymakers, investors and development partners to shape a fresh direction for Nigerian agriculture.

In a New Year address to members and stakeholders, AFAN president, Dr Farouk Rabiu Mudi, said the congress would provide a strategic forum for reviewing past challenges and outlining practical solutions for the future.

He explained that the event would serve as a rallying point for innovation, collaboration and economic renewal within the sector.

Mudi commended farmers across the country for their determination and hard work, despite years of insecurity, climate-related pressures and economic uncertainty.

According to him, their resilience has kept food production alive and positioned agriculture as a stabilising force in the national economy.

He noted that AFAN intends to build on this strength by resetting agribusiness operations to improve productivity and sustainability.

The AFAN leader appealed to government institutions, private investors and development organisations to deepen their engagement with the association.

He stressed the need for collective action to confront persistent issues such as insecurity in farming communities, climate impacts and market instability.

He also urged members to put aside internal disputes and personal interests, encouraging cooperation and shared responsibility in pursuit of national development.

Mudi outlined key priorities that include increasing food output, expanding support for farmers at the grassroots and strengthening local manufacturing through partnerships with both domestic and international investors adding that reducing dependence on imports remains critical to protecting the economy and creating jobs.

He stated that the upcoming congress will feature the launch of AFAN’s twenty-five-year agricultural mechanisation roadmap, alongside the announcement of new partnerships designed to accelerate growth across the value chain.

Participants, he said wi also have opportunities for networking and knowledge exchange aimed at transforming agriculture into a more competitive and technology-driven sector.

As part of its modernisation drive, AFAN is further encouraging members nationwide to enrol for the newly introduced Digital ID Card.

Mudi said the initiative will improve transparency, ensure proper farmer identification and make it easier to access support programmes and services.

Reaffirming the association’s long-term goal, he said the vision of national food sufficiency by 2030 remains achievable if unity and collaboration are sustained.

He expressed optimism that with collective effort, Nigeria’s agricultural sector can overcome its challenges and deliver a more secure and prosperous future.

Lady Usendi