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Finance Expert Commends CBN Over Forex Stability Target

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The Managing Director,
APT Securities and Funds Ltd, Malam Garba Kurfi, says the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN’s) pronouncement on foreign exchange stability would boost the confidence of foreign investors in the nation’s bourse.
Kurfi said  in Lagos that the CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele’s move to pursue foreign exchange stability would increase the participation of foreign investors in the nation’s stock market.
He said that the market would experience increased activity because foreign investors were the major players.
According to him, the pronouncement will make foreign investors to increase their stake in the nation’s stock market.
He, however, cautioned Emefiele on interest rate reduction to avoid the devaluation of Naira, as banks would engage in “dollarisation,” to increase their profit margin.
Kurfi said that foreign exchange stability would be difficult to achieve with low interest rates.
Emefiele had on June 5, unveiled his blueprint for the banking sector and the economy, and promised a gradual reduction of interest rates on lending and foreign exchange stability.
Emefiele said the CBN would act as a financial catalyst by targeting predetermined sectors that could create jobs on a mass scale and reducing the country’s import bills.
The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE’s) All-Share Index last week improved by 54.71 points or 0.13 per cent, to close at 41,529.11 points.
The Market Capitalisation also appreciated by N18 billion, to close at N13.713 trillion.
At the end of the week under review, investors’ bought 1.88 billion shares worth N32.90 billion in 28,408 deals, compared with 1.90 billion shares valued N34.64 billion traded in 20,452 deals in the preceding week.
The financial services sector led the activity chart with 1.38 billion shares worth N15.55 billion, accounted for in 14,386 deals.
The conglomerates sector followed with 162.50 million shares valued N1.54 billion, traded in 1,979 deals.
The third place was occupied by the industrial goods sector with 100.03 million shares worth N2.11 billion in 2,007 deals.
An analysis of the gainers’ chart showed that Ashaka Cement led in percentage terms, growing by 21.76 per cent or N4.89, to close at N27.36 per share.
Forte Oil followed with 16.89 per cent or N36.13, to close at N250.01, while Transcorp gained 12.56 per cent or 49k, to close at N4.39 per share.
On the other hand, Caverton topped the losers’ chart, shedding 18.48 per cent or N1, to close at N4.41 per share.
Berger Paints dropped 13.90 per cent or N1.39, to close at N8.61, while Julius Berger declined by 10.58 per cent or N7.99, to close at N67.50 per share.

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NPA Assures On Staff Welfare 

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The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, has said the management will continue to accompany its port infrastructure  and equipment  modernization drive  with the development of the welfare of its personnel.
Dantsoho made the disclosure recently while responding to the commendation by the Maritime Workers Union (MWUN) and the senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government-Owned Companies (SSASGOC) on the  clearing  of the age-long problem of employee stagnation, when the union paid him a courtesy visit at the Authority’s headquarters in Lagos.
A Statement by NPA’s General Manager Corporate & Strategic Communications, Mr. Ikechukwu Onyemekara, quoted Dantsoho as saying,  “our Port infrastructure and equipment modernization drive will go hand-in-hand with continuous staff welfare improvement”.
The NPA MD disclosed that human capital development constitutes the key strategy for creating and sustaining superior performance under his watch, adding that “talent development constitutes a critical success factor for the actualization of the big hairy audacious goals we have set for ourselves especially in the area of Port competitiveness.
“The only way we can meet and indeed exceed stakeholders’ expectations is to deepen the competencies of our human resources assets and boosting their morale.”
Speaking further, Dantsoho commended the Honourable Minister of Marine & Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, for approving the strategic proposal of the Dantsoho-led Management team that solved the over a decade-long problem of lack of promotion that had fuelled industrial disharmony.
“I must specially appreciate our amiable Minister for graciously approving the multi-pronged stratagem we deployed that cleared all outstanding cases of employee stagnation by conducting examinations in one fell swoop and instituted timelines to forestall a recurrence of such anomaly”, he sad.
Speaking on behalf of the joint maritime labour unions, the President  of Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations & Government-Owned Companies (SSASCGOC), Comrade Bodunde stated, “In addition to clearance of the backlog of stagnated promotions, we also wish to express our appreciation for the increase in productivity bonuses, provision of end-of-year welfare packages for staff, and the revision of the Financial Guide to the Condition of Service, which now addresses our members’ concerns about inflationary pressures.”
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
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ANLCA Chieftain Emerges FELCBA’s VP

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National Secretary of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Elder Olumide Fakanlu, has been elected Vice President of the Federation of ECOWAS Licensed Customs Brokers Association (FELCBA).
The election took place during the FELCBA Congress, held from Tuesday, June 17th to Thursday, June 19th, 2025, in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Fakanlu’s emergence as Vice President marks a significant achievement for Nigeria within the regional customs brokerage community.
Apart from Fakanlu, Secretary of the Seme Chapter of ANLCA, Austin Nwosu, was also elected, securing the role of Secretary of Relations with Institutions.
The Nigerian delegation played an active role in the congress, with Michael Ebeatu nominated as a member of the electoral officer team, ensuring a fair and transparent election process.
The three-day congress concluded with delegates undertaking a visit to the Sierra Leone Port, offering insights into the host nation’s maritime operations, followed by a recreational trip to the Tokeh Beach.
The newly elected executives are expected to lead FELCBA in its efforts to harmonize customs brokerage practices, promote trade facilitation, and advocate for the interests of licensed customs brokers across the ECOWAS sub-region.
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
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NSC, Police Boost Partnership On Port Enforcement 

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In a bid to enhance more enforcement in the nation’s Port, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has reaffirmed its commitment to stronger inter-agency collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
The Council said the collaboration is aimed at enhancing stronger enforcement, compliance and improve operational efficiency across Nigeria’s ports.
Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of  NSC, Dr. Pius Akutah, made this known during a visit to the  Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.
The visit, which he said, focused on strengthening institutional synergy, comes in the wake of growing responsibilities for the NSC under the newly created Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.
Akutah emphasized the critical role of security agencies in supporting port operations and ensuring regulatory compliance.
He called for the posting of police officers to assist the Council’s monitoring and enforcement teams at key port locations including Lagos, Warri, Onne, Port Harcourt, and Calabar.
“The posting will complement the activities of our revived task teams and enhance our ability to enforce standards across the maritime logistics chain”, he said.
Earlier, the Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Egbetokun, assured the Council of the Force’s readiness to continue supporting the growth of the maritime sector.
The IGP acknowledged that compliance enforcement is essential to the successful implementation of Nigeria’s Blue Economy objectives.
“The NSC and NPF are expected to deepen collaboration in the months ahead, with a shared focus on building a secure, efficient, and competitive port environment”, to the IGP emphasized.
Chinedu Wosu
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