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Capital Market Loses N145bn In November

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16 years ago

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The Nigerian Stock Exchange recorded a total loss of N145 billion on equities at the close of trading activities in November, blaming poor financial results of quoted companies on the downturn.

The market value of the 215 listed equities which opened the month at N5.143 trillion closed on the last trading day of November at N4.998 trillion, accounting for 65 per cent of the total market capitalisation of the 300 quoted securities, valued at N7.7 trillion.

Also, the Exchange All-Share Index (ASI), which opened at 21,804.69 closed at 21,010.29. This shows a decline by 794.40 points or 3.64 per cent during the month compared to decline by 260.31 points or 1.2 per cent in October. Compared with an opening value of 31,450.78 on December 31, 2008, the year-to-date decline in the NSE ASI stood at 33.2 per cent.

The Information Department of the stock exchange explained that most companies performed below expectation because the “harsh operating environment” continued to hamper their operations. It added that “the gloomy economic outlook so far in 2009 affected the quarterly results of some quoted companies.

Consequently, stock market indicators recorded downward movements. The stock exchange further explained that the stock market recorded a monthly negative return of 5.32 per cent on a dividend-adjusted basis, a reversal from the positive 0.35 per cent recorded in October. It noted that the 11-month average return remained negative at 38.41 per cent.

The market recorded a low turnover of 9.33 billion shares valued at N56.12 billion in 114,607 deals in November in contrast to the 10.7 billion shares worth N73.31 billion exchanged during October in 134,394 deals. Hence, trading volume and value dropped by 12.51 per cent and 23.45 per cent but rose by 17.9 per cent and 11.1 per cent in October.

Total turnover between January and November 2009 was 95.3 billion shares valued at N638.11 billion. In the comparable period during 2008, 183.45 billion units valued at N2.33 trillion were traded.

Virginus Agada, stockbroker at Eurocomm Securities Limited said the low turnover recorded could be attributed to the fall in the prices of equities and the slow pace of activities witnessed in all sectors of the market.

Measuring by turnover volume, the banking subsector was the most active in November with traded volume of 5.75 billion shares valued at N36.83 billion; the insurance subsector was second with traded volume of 1.7 billion shares valued at N1.3 billion, while the Information Communication and Technology subsector came third with transaction volume of 373.1 million shares worth N1.1 billion.

FinBank Plc was the most active stock with transaction volume of 1.054 billion shares followed by First Bank of Nigeria Plc with 758.03 million shares while Access Bank Plc placed third with 742.2 million shares.

Over-The-Counter (OTC) bond market recorded a turnover of 1.4 billion units worth N1.74 trillion in November, in contrast to a total of 1.71 billion shares valued at N1.9 trillion exchanged during the preceding month.

The most active bond, in terms of volume, was the 5th Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) Bond 2028 Series 5 with traded volume 275.4 million units valued at N477.7billion. It was followed by the 6th FGN Bond 2012 Series 1 with a traded volume of 111.9 million units valued at N125.02 billion. Only 32 of the available 37 FGN Bonds were traded during the month, compared to 29 in the previous month.

Between January and November, total transactions on FGN Bonds through the OTC market were 16.34 billion units valued at N17.7 trillion. During the same period in 2008, transactions on the OTC market for the FGN Bonds were 9.5 billion units worth N1.28 trillion.

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Two Federal Agencies Enter Pack On Expansion, Sustainable Electricity In Niger Delta

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6 days ago

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February 16, 2026

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The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) to expand access to reliable and sustainable electricity across the Niger Delta region.
The agreement, signed at the headquarters of the REA in Abuja, was targeted at strengthening institutional collaboration and accelerating development in underserved communities in the region.
A statement by the Director, Corporate Affairs of the NDDC, Seledi Thompson-Wakama, said the pact underscores renewed efforts by the two federal interventionist agencies to deepen cooperation and fast-track infrastructure delivery.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Managing Director of the NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, described the MoU as a strategic step towards realising the Commission’s vision to “light up the Niger Delta” in line with national priorities on distributed energy expansion.
Ogbuku said the agreement represents a shared institutional responsibility to deliver reliable energy solutions that will enhance livelihoods, stimulate local economies and create broader opportunities across the nine Niger Delta states.
According to him, electricity remains a critical enabler of national development, supporting job creation, healthcare delivery, education and inclusive economic growth.
He noted that the collaboration would help unlock the economic potential of rural communities while advancing broader national development objectives.
The NDDC boss added that the Commission has consistently adopted partnership-driven approaches in executing projects in the region and is prepared to support the implementation of the MoU by leveraging its community presence and infrastructure development capacity.
He reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to working closely with the REA to ensure the timely and effective execution of the agreement.
The NDDC delegation at the event included the Executive Director, Projects, Dr Victor Antai; Executive Director, Corporate Services, Otunba Ifedayo Abegunde; Director, Legal Services, Mr Victor Arenyeka; Director, Finance and Supply, Mrs Kunemofa Asu; and Director, Liaison Office, Abuja, Mrs Mary Nwaeke.
In his remarks, the Managing Director of the REA, Dr Abba Abubakar Aliyu, described the MoU as a natural collaboration between two agencies with complementary mandates, reflecting a shared commitment to expanding access to sustainable electricity in rural communities.
Aliyu said the Niger Delta remains central to Nigeria’s economic fortunes and must be supported by infrastructure capable of driving productivity, enterprise and improved living standards, adding that the partnership signals readiness to deliver stable power to communities that have long awaited reliable electricity supply.
By: King Onunwor
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Why The AI Boom May Extend The Reign Of Natural Gas 

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6 days ago

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February 16, 2026

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Artificial intelligence is often viewed as a catalyst for electrification and subsequently decarbonization. Yet one of its most immediate effects may be the opposite of what many assume. The rapid buildout of AI infrastructure is increasing demand for reliable power, and that reality could strengthen the role of natural gas and other dispatchable energy sources for many years.
Investors focused on semiconductors and software valuations may be overlooking a key constraint. AI runs on electricity, and those electricity systems operate within physical and economic limits.
The energy sector has spent much of the past decade grappling with slow load growth. That is now changing, in a way that is reminiscent of the sharp rise in oil demand—and subsequently price—in the early 2000s.
Training large language models and operating advanced AI systems requires enormous computing resources. Hyperscale data centers are expanding rapidly, with developers requesting gigawatt-scale interconnections from utilities. In several regions, electricity demand forecasts have been revised upward after years of flat expectations.
This shift is significant because AI workloads create continuous, high-density demand rather than intermittent usage. Data centers cannot simply power down when the electricity supply becomes constrained. Reliability becomes paramount.
Wind and solar capacity continues to expand, but intermittent generation alone cannot meet the firm capacity needs of AI infrastructure without significant storage or backup generation.
Battery storage is improving, yet long-duration storage remains costly at scale. Nuclear projects face long development timelines and complex permitting hurdles. Transmission expansion also lags demand growth in many regions.
These constraints make dispatchable power sources critical. Natural gas plants can ramp quickly, operate continuously, and be deployed faster than many alternatives. As a result, gas-fired generation is increasingly viewed as a practical solution for supporting AI-driven load growth.
This does not undermine the role of renewables. In many markets, new renewable capacity is paired with gas generation to maintain grid stability. The key point is that AI-driven electrification is likely to increase fossil fuel usage in the near term.
Construction timelines favor gas-fired generation when demand rises quickly. Existing pipeline infrastructure reduces barriers to expansion. And for operators of data centers, reliability often outweighs ideological preferences. Downtime is simply too expensive.
Utilities are also revisiting resource plans as load forecasts rise. That shift may drive increased investment in transmission, grid modernization, and flexible generation assets.
The Decarbonization Story Is Complex
A common narrative holds that AI accelerates the transition away from fossil fuels because it increases electrification. The reality is more nuanced.
If electricity demand outpaces the buildout of low-carbon capacity, fossil generation may still increase in absolute terms even as renewables gain market share. Total emissions could rise, but the carbon intensity of the energy system may trend lower as cleaner sources make up a larger share of supply.
Ultimately, energy systems evolve based on engineering and economics, not just policy goals or market narratives.
Rising power demand could benefit utilities investing in transmission and generation capacity. Natural gas producers and midstream companies may see structural demand support from increased power-sector consumption. Equipment suppliers tied to grid reliability and gas turbines could also gain from the shift.
Longer term, advances in nuclear, storage, or efficiency may change the trajectory. For now, the immediate response to surging electricity demand is likely to rely on technologies that can be deployed quickly and reliably.
Artificial intelligence may reshape the economy in profound ways. One of the least appreciated consequences is that it may extend the relevance of natural gas as the world builds the energy backbone required to power the next generation of computing.
By: Robert Rapier
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Ogun To Join Oil-Producing States  ……..As NNPCL Kicks Off Commercial Oil Production At Eba

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6 days ago

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February 16, 2026

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Ogun State is set to join the comity of oil producing states in the country following the discovery and subsequent approval of commercial oil exploration activities in the Eba oil well, in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area of the state.
A technical team from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has visited the area as preparations are in advanced stage for commencement of commercial drilling operations in the state.
The inspection followed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approval for commercial exploration, forming part of the federal government’s efforts to deploy the required technical capacity and infrastructure for production.
Officials of NNPCL carried out the exercise alongside representatives of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and national security agencies to evaluate the site and confirm its readiness for drilling activities.
The delegation was led by Project Coordinator for Enserv, Hussein Aliyu, who headed the NNPCL Enserv technical team.
Other members included Wasiu Adeniyi, Onwugba Kelechi, Engr. Rabiu M. Audu, Ojonoka Braimah, Ahmad Usman, Akinbosola Oluwaseyi, Salisu Nuhu, James Amezhinim, Yusuf Abdul-Azeez, Amararu Isukul and Livinus J. Kigbu.
Speaking, Governor Dapo Abiodun, described the development as a landmark achievement for Ogun State, saying “the commencement of drilling at Eba would stimulate economic growth, create employment opportunities and attract increased federal presence to the state’s coastal communities.
Abiodun also expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for his support toward the development of frontier oil basins and the equitable spread of the nation’s energy resources.
Recall that geological reports had earlier confirmed the presence of hydrocarbons within the Ogun Waterside axis, leading to preliminary surveys and technical engagements by NNPCL.
The Ogun State Government also carried out an independent verification of the oil well’s coordinates, affirming the discovery is located within the state’s boundaries.
To secure the project, naval security personnel have been deployed to the site for over 18 months, with the support of the Ogun State Government, to protect the facility and its environs.
The Eba oil well is regarded as part of Nigeria’s strategic move to expand oil production beyond the Niger Delta region.
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