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Shareholders Funds To Drive Sale Of Rescued Banks

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Sanusi Lamido, governor, CBN worried by the negative perception occasioned by the delay in disposing of the rescued banks, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is proposing that the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) will focus initially on purchasing qualifying non-performing loans (NPLs) along with the associated rights to underlying collaterals, when it becomes operational.

Consequently, the apex bank, which has embarked on reconciliatory moves of late to stir dwindling confidence and also carry major stakeholders along in its ongoing reform programme, would want AMCON to concentrate on margin loans given by banks badly hit by the capital market crash, as they are easier to value. Specifically, the development is expected to restore Negative Asset Value (NAV) – bank’s total assets minus total liabilities – through taking over of the bad loans by AMCON, so as to be able to report positive shareholders’ fund. Shareholders’ fund is capital invested in a business by its shareholders, including retained profits or part of a bank’s financial assets consisting of share capital and retained earnings. It is an alternative term for owners’ equity.

The implication is that investors, both local and foreign, will be encouraged to resume talks with CBN-appointed holding managers of the rescued banks which broke down due to fresh discoveries after the due diligence carried out by some of them on the embattled banks. Ultimately, these investors will be expected to contend with the minimum capitalisation, when the problem of shareholders’ funds is solved by the corporation.

In fact, in the wake of the capital market boom in 2008, the banks dipped into shareholders’ funds to purchase, under fictitious names and proxies, shares under the much abused margin loans. But banks, particularly the rescued ones, are not helping matters as they are still charging interest on some margin loans entered in their books as bad, and which AMCON is expected to purchase.

For instance, an acceptance of the letter of resignation from one of the distressed banks to an ex-staff says: “Kindly note that your public offer loan is running at 16.0 percent beginning from your resignation date.” In another instance, dividends that accrued to the shares of the same loan have been taken over by the bank through letters dated September, November and December 2009 from the registrars to the head office of the bank.

However, CBN is said to be disturbed by the delay in the disposal of the distressed banks through mergers and acquisitions, but observed that the only way to reverse the trend is through positive shareholders’ funds.

Interestingly, AMCON is also expected to distribute those assets to investment managers, who will have the option of taking a variety of portfolios through an investment strategy that will be defined by it. This could be through selling some of the shares and going into real estate. Besides, CBN sees it as a vehicle for distributing losses between the banks and the brokers, following the capital market loss of about 70 percent to the crisis.

Justifying CBN’s position, Razia Khan, global head of macro economic research, Standard Chattered Bank said: “In the case of any asset management company, one would expect it to buy assets that can be easily valued first – in this case margin loans – as there is a market for it. Even if higher than market prices are paid for the assets in order to recapitalise the institutions, this is standard practice with AMCs the world over.”

Johnson Chukwu, managing director and chief executive officer, Cowry Asset Management Limited, said: “What the CBN means is that AMCON will basically start with taking over the bad loans of the troubled banks and the collaterals which were used to secure the loans. This action is intended to make sure that their net asset value, which, for the troubled banks is all negative, will be reversed to positive. As you know, the NAV, which is the same thing as the shareholders’ funds is negative for the troubled banks because they had to take losses from their non-performing loans.

 ”When these loans are taken over by AMCON, the banks will write back the huge provisions they made for the loans into profit or extraordinary income and if the write backs are as high as their negative NAV, they will be able to report positive shareholders’ fund. For the banks to be attractive to new investors, be they local or foreign, they need to have positive shareholders’ funds.

“For instance, if an investor has to take over bank A today, he has to first inject over N200 billion to bring its shareholders’ fund to positive before injecting another N25 billion to meet the minimum capitalisation for banks. If, however, AMCON is able to reverse the negative shareholders’ fund, then the new investor will only have to contend with raising N25 billion.”

Akinbamidele Akintola, research analyst, Renaissance Group, was of the opinion that given the 10-year life span for AMCON, it will be in a position to manage the loans for recovery, post-capital injection, adding that “it would remain a part of CBN regulatory infrastructure going forward to reduce NPL levels in banks.” He however called for a clear and transparent valuation model for taking over the loans.

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Lokpobiri Condemns Abandoned Refinery Project in N’Delta … Vows Revival

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Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, has condemned the long-standing abandonment of the Brass Modern Refinery project in Bayelsa State, saying it’s “unacceptable”.
Lokpobiri, who stated his concerns over the abandoned project during an inspection visit to Brass Local Government Area, emphasized the need to revitalise the project.
He also toured the Ewa-Ama Road project leading to the Brass Petroleum Products Terminal, and reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to fast-tracking critical oil and gas infrastructure in the Niger Delta.
“It is unacceptable that such a strategic project has been left in this state for so long”, Lokpobiri declared, adding that “the Federal Government remains committed to ensuring that critical oil and gas infrastructure, like the Brass Refinery, is completed to create jobs and drive economic growth in the region”.
A statement issued yesterday by the Special Assistant on Media and Communication to the Minister, Nneamaka Okafor, assured that the administration is determined to deliver on these projects within President Bola Tinubu’s first two years in office.
Accompanied by the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream & Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Farouk Ahmed, Lokpobiri stressed that the completion of these projects aligns with Tinubu’s mandate to boost Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
Beyond infrastructure concerns, Lokpobiri engaged with host community representatives, commending their patience and peaceful disposition despite the setbacks.
He said, “I sincerely commend the people of Brass for their patience and cooperation. Your support is invaluable, and I assure you that we will work tirelessly today to address these issues and bring this project to completion”.
A community representative, who welcomed the minister’s visit, described it as a step toward rebuilding trust in the government’s commitment to the region.
“We appreciate Senator Lokpobiri’s visit and his assurance that this project will receive due attention. We are hopeful that his intervention will lead to tangible progress”, the representative said.
Lokpobiri further urged the community to sustain the peace, emphasising that stability is crucial for attracting investment and fostering regional development.
He reiterated the government’s dedication to creating economic opportunities that would benefit Brass and the broader Niger Delta region.
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FG Unveils Industrialisation Strategies In 2025  … To Conduct MSMEs Census

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Towards enhancing its industrial transformation and economic growth strategy, the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment (FMITI) is set to carry out a national census aimed at establishing a data-driven roadmap for empowering Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in 2025.
The Ministry revealed this in its 2025 outlook document, which listed the top priorities for the 2025, titled, “Accelerating Diversification to Rebuild Prosperity by Leveraging Industry, Trade & Investment”, signed by the Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole and the Minister of State, Senator John Enoh.
The census, according to the document, is an essential step in conducting a nationwide census to establish a precise, data-driven roadmap for empowering MSMEs.
According to the document, “The ministry will conduct a nationwide census to establish a precise, data-driven roadmap for empowering Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and a high-level task force focused on implementing industrial reforms and re-engineering the Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP), aiming to create a modernised blueprint for sustainable industrialisation”.
Oduwole defined 2025 as a critical year for the nation to diversify its economy, promising quantifiable results through strategic initiatives and policy changes.
According to her, the ministry will concentrate on three crucial areas – investment mobilisation, trade revenue growth, and economic diversification.
“As a ministry, we prioritize creating a dynamic, resilient, and sustainable economy by positioning the private sector for productivity and competitiveness and enabling businesses to take full advantage of the vast opportunities available in domestic, regional, and global markets.
“We have re-positioned ourselves to deliver empirically verifiable policies and reforms based on transparently laid down, which improved FMITI’s Performance significantly in the last quarter of 2024.
“We are building an economy that attracts abundant investment from across the world, fosters industrial transformation, and facilitates trade in exports to generate productive jobs for Nigerians across the country.
“In 2025, to accelerate diversification and rebuild prosperity, FMITI will deliver a more enabled environment through good regulation and development policies and the expansion of trade and investment across three broad areas: Economic diversification to accelerate through industrialisation, digitisation, creative arts, manufacturing and innovation; Trade revenue growth to boost export and foreign exchange earnings; and investment mobilisation aimed at increasing investment retention and attraction”, Oduwole stated.
The key priorities for the ministry in 2025, according to the document, are: “Unlocking the full potential of the automotive sector by accelerating local manufacturing and fostering world-class supply chains; Expanding value addition in agriculture to position Nigeria as a global powerhouse in agro-industrial production; and Revitalizing the Cotton, Textile, and Garments (CTG) ecosystem to enhance domestic production, drive exports, and create millions of jobs.
Others are, “Advancing Nigeria’s industrial self-sufficiency through strategic investments in pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and petrochemical industries; Conducting a nationwide census to establish a precise, data-driven roadmap for empowering Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs); and setting up a high-level task force focused on implementing these industrial reforms and re-engineering the Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP), aiming to create a modernized blueprint for sustainable industrialisation”.
In his comment, Enoh said, “We will also drive the revitalisation of existing industries, ensuring they remain vibrant players in an increasingly competitive world”.
To make these goals a reality, he said the ministry will engage extensively with key stakeholders across sectors, fostering strategic partnerships, collaboration, and rigorous monitoring and evaluation of industrial projects.
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Coy Strengthens Commitment To Nigeria’s Energy Future

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Genesis Energy Group, a provider of integrated power solutions, has strengthened its commitment to the future of Nigeria’s energy infrastructure after hosting Governor Dikko Radda of Katsina State on a landmark visit to its Lagos and Port Harcourt facilities.
According to a statement, the visit highlighted the growing collaboration between state governments and private sector players in addressing Nigeria’s persistent energy challenges.
Governor Radda toured Genesis Energy’s 84 MW off-grid power plant at the Port Harcourt Refinery, the largest licensed facility of its kind in Nigeria.
The statement noted that the facility plays a crucial role in providing a stable and efficient power supply to key industrial establishments, reinforcing Genesis Energy’s leadership in sustainable energy solutions.
Following the refinery visit, the Governor proceeded to its Lagos power plant on Banana Island, Ikoyi, which includes 2×7.5MVA and 15MVA Injection Substations operating at 33/11KV.
The company explained that the facility ensures an uninterrupted electricity supply to both commercial and residential areas, further establishing Genesis Energy as a trusted provider of reliable power solutions.
Commending the company’s technological capabilities and operational excellence, Governor Radda said, “I am highly impressed with what I have seen.
“The company has exhibited remarkable expertise in power generation, with its turbine system running at full capacity for over a decade. Their electricity distribution process and service efficiency demonstrate their ability to execute large-scale power projects in Nigeria”.
The visit also allowed discussions on potential partnerships between the Katsina State government and Genesis Energy to enhance energy access and industrial growth in the region. Governor Radda acknowledged the company’s capacity to contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s energy transformation.
On his part, the Executive Vice President of Operations and Maintenance at Genesis Energy Group, Simon Shaibu, emphasised the company’s dedication to driving innovation and strategic partnerships in the energy sector.
He said, “At Genesis Energy, we firmly believe that collaboration is key to unlocking Nigeria’s vast energy potential. As we continue expanding and innovating, we remain committed to supporting industries, fostering economic growth, and shaping a more sustainable energy landscape.
“The company remains committed to advancing national energy objectives through strategic investments in sustainable power infrastructure, further positioning itself as a leader in the transformation of Nigeria’s energy landscape”.
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