Business

Forex Brokers with offices in Nigeria

Published

2 years ago

February 17, 2024

Nigeria has established itself as one of the powerhouses of forex trading in Africa. Together with Kenya and South Africa, Nigeria hosts some of the most hardcore forex traders in the continent. As the popularity of forex trading continues to grow, it attracts forex brokers who want to take advantage of this growing sector. Some brokers have even gone as far as setting up offices in Nigeria. In this short review, we are going to look at some forex brokers with offices in Nigeria. Let’s jump in.

FXTM

FXTM is one of the most prominent brokers with an office in Nigeria. This broker’s office in Nigeria is located on the 3rd Floor, 5, Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria. This allows the broker to better fine-tune the services it offers to Nigerian traders. This is because its staff has exposure to the country and can interact one-on-one with traders to find out what they are looking for in a broker.

While not regulated in Nigeria, this broker is well-regulated by organizations around the world. It operates under the supervision of the FSCA in South Africa, the FCA in the UK, and the CySEC in Cyprus. Notably, this broker gives its traders access to a plethora of market products. These include forex, commodities, metals, indices, forex indices, stocks, stock baskets, and stock CFDs. This means that traders can trade more than just forex on the same FXTM account. Further, the spreads for trading on this broker site are relatively low starting from as low as 1.5 pips on the Micro and the Advantage Plus accounts.

Is There Any Other Broker?

Unfortunately, we couldn’t find any other broker with a physical office in Nigeria. While there may be others, we cannot say with full confidence that they have reputable regulations and services. Nonetheless, there are other brokers with a strong presence in Nigeria even if they do not have physical offices in the country. Let’s briefly look at some of such brokers.

XM

XM is heavily involved in forex-related activities in Nigeria. This broker even hosts classes for Nigerian traders and has been involved in forex expos in Nigeria. By participating in such events, XM gains by attracting new clients to its broker site. On the other hand, traders gain by learning forex trading concepts and strategies from experienced traders who have been in the space for a long time.

Notably, XM is also not regulated in Nigeria. But that is no fault of its own. The country barely has any broker under the regulation of the two organisations in charge of regulations. Nonetheless, XM has regulations from other organizations around the world. These include the FSC in Belize and the ASIC in Australia, among others. The broker allows traders to trade a variety of market products that range from CFDs on forex, cryptocurrencies, indices, shares, stocks, energies, and precious metals. The trading platforms available for traders to pick include MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and the XM Trading App.

FP Markets

FP Markets is another broker with a strong presence in Nigeria, despite not having a physical office in the country. The company participates in forex workshops and other forex events in various parts of the country. Just to name a few, FP Markets has participated in events based in Lagos, Calabar, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Enugu, and Ibadan. It has a strong customer base in these areas.

While not regulated in Nigeria, this broker has strong regulations in other jurisdictions. The broker is under the regulation of the FSCA in South Africa and the ASIC in Australia, among others. This regulatory status is one of the reasons why FP Markets is popular among Nigerian traders. Additionally, this broker offers a deep collection of market products totalling over 10,000 different market instruments. These include forex currency pairs alongside CFDs on indices, commodities, bonds, cryptocurrencies, shares, metals, and ETFs. The spreads are fairly low starting from 1.0 pips on the standard account. They are even lower on the raw account starting from 0.0 pips plus a commission of $3 per side per lot.

The Bottom Line

There may be many brokers that have physical offices in Nigeria. However, their credibility might be wanting at best. FXTM stands out as one of the most reputable brokers with an office in the country. It stands out because it has regulations from reputable organizations and offers quality services. Nonetheless, there are other brokers with a strong presence in Nigeria, even though they don’t have a physical office in the country.

Brokers like XM and FP Markets constantly participate in events to educate the general public in Nigeria on the ins and outs of forex trading. But they are not the only ones. There are other brokers like XTB and Exness that remain committed to engaging with Nigerian traders to establish a long-lasting relationship. Ultimately, every trader must choose the broker that best suits them. Considering the presence of the broker in a country is very important. But prioritizing a broker’s credibility and quality of service will do a trader much more.

Transport

Nigeria Rates 7th For Visa Application To France —–Schengen Visa

Published

2 days ago

January 28, 2026

The Tide

Nigeria was the 7th country in 2024, which filed the most schenghen visa to France, with a total of 111,201 of schenghen visa applications made in 2025, out of which 55,833, about 50.2 percent submitted to France

Although 2025 data is unavailable, these figures from Schengen Visa Info implies that France is not merely a preferred destination, but has been a dominant access point for Nigerian short-stay travel into Europe.

France itself has received more than three million Schengen visa applications, making it the most sought-after Schengen destination globally and a leading gateway for long-haul and third-country travellers. It was the top destination for applicants from 51 countries that same year, including many without visa-exemption arrangements with the Schengen Zone, and the sole destination for applicants from seven countries.

Alison Reed, a senior analyst at the European Migration Observatory said, “France’s administrative reach shapes applicant strategy, but it also concentrates risk. If processing times lengthen or documentation standards tighten in Paris, the effects ripple quickly back to capitals such as Abuja.”

The figures underline that this pattern is not unique to Nigeria. In neighbouring West and Central African states such as Gabon, Benin, Togo and Madagascar, more than 90 per cent of Schengen visas were sought via French authorities in 2024, with Chad, Djibouti, the Central African Republic and Comoros submitting applications exclusively to France.

“France acts as the central enumeration point for many African and Asian applicants,” said Manish Khandelwal, founder of Travelobiz.com, which reported the consolidated statistics. “Historical ties, language networks and established diaspora communities all play into that concentration. But volume inevitably invites scrutiny, and that affects refusal rates and processing rigour.”

That scrutiny is visible in the rejection statistics. Of the more than three million French applications in 2024, approximately 481,139 were denied, a rejection rate of about 15.7 per cent. While this rate is lower than in some smaller Schengen states, the sheer volume of applications means France contributes significantly to the total number of refusals within the zone.

For Nigerian applicants and policymakers, one implication is the need to broaden engagement with other Schengen consular hubs. “Over-reliance on a single consulate creates what one might call administrative bottleneck effects,” said Jean-Luc Martin, a professor and expert in European integration and mobility law at Leiden University. “If applicants from Nigeria default to France without exploring legitimate alternatives in countries like Spain, Germany or the Netherlands, they expose themselves to systemic risk

Martin added that the broader context of Schengen visa policy is evolving, with the European Commission’s preparing roll-out of the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) aimed at harmonising pre-travel screening across member states.

For Nigerians seeking leisure, business or educational travel to Europe, these trends suggest that strategic planning and consular diversification could become as important as the completeness of documentation and financial proof. Governments and travel consultancies in Abuja, Lagos and beyond are already advising clients to explore alternative consular pathways and to prepare for more rigorous screening criteria across all Schengen states

By: Enoch Epelle

Transport

West Zone Aviation: Adibade Olaleye Sets For NANTA President

Published

2 days ago

January 28, 2026

The Tide

Prince Abiodun Ajibade Olaleye, a former Welfare Officer and Public Relations Officer of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA), has formally declared his intention to contest for the position of Vice President of NANTA Western Zone, ahead of the zonal elections scheduled for Thursday, February 26, 2026.

In a New Year message to members of the association, Olaleye expressed optimism about the prospects of the travel and tourism industry in 2026, despite the economic headwinds and migration policy challenges that affected operations in the previous year.

He acknowledged that reduced patronage and declining trade volumes had placed significant financial pressure on many travel agencies, but urged members to remain resilient and forward-looking.

According to him, the challenges confronting the industry should be seen as opportunities for growth, innovation and institutional strengthening.

He stressed the need for unity and collective action among members of the association, noting that collaboration remains critical to navigating the evolving global travel environment.

Unveiling his vision for the NANTA Western Zone, Olaleye said his aspiration is to consolidate on the achievements of past leaders while expanding the zone’s relevance, influence and impact “beyond imagination.” He promised a leadership focused on commanding excellence, improved member welfare and stronger stakeholder engagement.

Drawing from his experience in previous executive roles within NANTA, the vice-presidential aspirant said he is well-positioned to make meaningful contributions to the association, particularly in areas of member support, public engagement and institutional growth.

“I believe that together, we can take our association to greater heights and build a stronger, more prosperous NANTA Western Zone that benefits all members,” he said, while appealing to delegates for their support and votes.

Olaleye concluded by offering prayers for good health, peace and prosperity for members in 2026, expressing confidence that the new year would usher in renewed opportunities for the travel industry and the association at large.

By: Enoch Epelle

Business

Sugar Tax ‘ll Threaten Manufacturing Sector, Says CPPE

Published

2 days ago

January 28, 2026

The Tide

The Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE) has warned that renewed calls for a sugar tax on non-alcoholic beverages could hurt Nigeria’s manufacturing sector, threaten jobs and slow the country’s fragile economic recovery.

In a statement, the Chief Executive Officer, CPPE, Muda Yusuf, said while public health concerns such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases deserve attention, imposing an additional sugar-specific tax was economically risky and poorly suited to Nigeria’s current realities of high inflation, weak consumer purchasing power and rising production costs.

Yusuf who insisted that the food and beverage sector remains the backbone of Nigeria’s manufacturing industry, said the industry supports millions of livelihoods across farming, processing, packaging, logistics, wholesale and retail trade, and hospitality.

He remarked that any policy that weakens this ecosystem could have far-reaching consequences, including job losses, lower household incomes and reduced investment.

Yusuf argued that proposals for sugar taxation in Nigeria are often influenced by global policy templates that do not adequately reflect local conditions.

According to him, manufacturers in the non-alcoholic beverage segment are already facing heavy fiscal and cost pressures.

“The proposition of a sugar-specific tax is misplaced, economically risky, and weakly supported by empirical evidence, especially when viewed against Nigeria’s prevailing structural and macroeconomic realities.

“Existing obligations include company income tax, value-added tax, excise duties, levies on profits and imports, and multiple state and local government charges. These are compounded by high energy costs, exchange-rate volatility, elevated interest rates and expensive logistics,” he said.

The CPPE boss noted that retail prices of many non-alcoholic beverages have risen by about 50 per cent over the past two years, even without the introduction of new taxes, further squeezing consumers.

Yusuf further expressed reservation on the effectiveness of sugar taxes in addressing the root causes of non-communicable diseases in Nigeria.

By: Lady Godknows Ogbulu