Business
Oil Firms Target N427bn Revenue In Q4 2023
Three oil firms, MRS Oil Nigeria Plc, TotalEnergies Marketing Nigeria Plc, and Eterna Plc have projected that they will earn N427.58bn as revenue in the fourth quarter of 2023.
The oil firms disclosed this in their Q4 forecasts which were filed with the Nigerian Exchange Limited.
MRS Oil projected that its revenue will be N154.02bn in Q4. That its profit before tax would be N1.50bn with its tax projected to come in at N487.61m and profit after tax predicted to be N1.02bn.
On its statement of cash flow, the oil company said its net cash generated from operating activities would be N2.35bn and its cash and cash equivalent at the end of the third quarter would be N8.17bn.
In its half-year report, MRS Nigeria declared N59.65bn, which is an increase of nearly 40 per cent from N42.66bn in H1 2022. Its profit for the period rose to N2.310bn from N351m.
TotalEnergies Marketing Nigeria Plc, on its part, said the revenue forecast for Q4 is N138.81bn. Profit before taxation is expected to hit N2.31bn, and income tax expense is projected to be N748.766m with the profit for the period being N1.56bn.
In terms of cash flow, TotalEnergies Marketing Nigeria Plc is projecting that net cash generated from operations will be N16.76bn. Cash and cash equivalents as of September 30, 2023 (Q3 ending) is expected to be N12.09bn.
TotalEnergies Marketing Nigeria Plc, a marketing and services subsidiary of the oil giant, Total, in the first half of 2023 reported 31 per cent growth in its revenue to N274.60bn from N209.01bn. The growth in its profit for the same period stood at three per cent to N8.79bn.
Eterna Plc in its own earnings forecast projected that its revenue for Q4 would be N134.75bn with the cost of sales expected to take up a significant portion of it at N120.59bn.
The oil projected that profit before tax will be N982.37m while profit after tax is expected to come in at N308.59m.
In terms of cash flow, Eterna said cash and cash equivalent at the beginning of the period would be N9.12bn and N2.87bn at the end of the period.
The company also projected that the effects of foreign exchange rate changes will be N9.62bn during the quarter.
The revenue of oil firms increased in the first half of 2023, driven by a surge in fuel prices and increasing global demand. Recall that fuel subsidy was removed during the period, which led to an increase in the price of petrol across Nigeria.
Edun made the call while speaking at the 2025 Fellowship Investiture of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) in Lagos, where he reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to sustaining ongoing reforms and expanding access to finance as key drivers of economic growth beyond four per cent.
“We all know that monetary policy under Cardoso has stabilised the financial system in a most commendable way. Of course, it is a team effort, and those eye-watering interest rates have to be paid by the fiscal side. But the fight against inflation is one we all have to participate in,” he said.
The minister stressed the need for banks to broaden credit access and finance innovation-driven enterprises that can create jobs for young Nigerians.
“The finance and banking industry has more work to do because we must finance their ideas, deepen the capital and credit markets down to SMEs. They should not have to go to Silicon Valley,” he said.
The minister who described the private sector as the engine of growth, said the government’s reform agenda aims to create an enabling environment where businesses can thrive, access funding, and contribute meaningfully to job creation.
The facility, known as the Nigeria Actions for Investment and Jobs Acceleration (P512892), is a Development Policy Financing (DPF) operation scheduled for World Bank Board consideration on December 16, 2025.
According to the Bank’s concept note , the financing would comprise $500m in International Development Association (IDA) credit and $500m in International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) loan.
If approved, it would be the second-largest single loan Nigeria has received from the World Bank under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, following the $1.5 billion facility granted in June 2024 under the Reforms for Economic Stabilisation to Enable Transformation (RESET) initiative.
The World Bank said the new programme aims to support Nigeria’s shift from short-term macroeconomic stabilisation to sustainable, private sector–led growth.
“The proposed Development Policy Financing (DPF) supports Nigeria’s pivot from stabilization to inclusive growth and job creation. Structured as a two-tranche standalone operation of US$1.0 billion (US$500 million IDA credit and US$500 million IBRD loan), it seeks to catalyse private sector–led investment by expanding access to credit, deepening capital markets and digital services, easing inflationary pressures, and promoting export diversification,” the document read.
The document further stated that Nigeria’s private sector credit-to-GDP ratio stood at only 21.3 per cent in 2024, significantly below that of emerging-market peers, while capital markets remain shallow, with sovereign securities dominating the bond market.
To address these weaknesses, the DPF will support the implementation of the Investment and Securities Act 2025, operationalisation of credit-enhancement facilities, and introduction of a comprehensive Central Bank of Nigeria rulebook to strengthen risk-based regulation and consumer protection.
The operation also includes measures to deepen digital inclusion through the passage of the National Digital Economy and E-Governance Bill 2025, which will establish a legal framework for electronic transactions, authentication services, and digital records.
Beyond the financial and digital sectors, the programme targets reforms to lower production and living costs by tackling Nigeria’s restrictive trade regime. High tariffs and import bans have long driven up consumer prices and constrained competitiveness, particularly for manufacturers and farmers.
Under the proposed reforms, Nigeria would adopt AfCFTA tariff concessions, rationalise import restrictions, and simplify agricultural seed certification to increase the supply of high-quality varieties for maize, rice, and soybeans. The World Bank projects that these measures will help reduce food inflation, attract private investment, and enhance export potential.
The operation is part of a broader World Bank FY26 package that includes three complementary projects—Fostering Inclusive Finance for MSMEs (FINCLUDE), Building Resilient Digital Infrastructure for Growth (BRIDGE), and Nigeria Sustainable Agricultural Value-Chains for Growth (AGROW)—all focused on expanding access to finance, strengthening institutions, and mobilising private capital.