By OBI DAVIES NIGERIA’S capital market is set for major restructuring following the Securities and Exchange Commission’s decision to significantly raise minimum capital requirements for regulated entities. The new framework, released on 16 January 2026 under the Investments and Securities Act 2025, replaces capital thresholds that have been in place for a decade. The SEC […]
By OBIOMA TORI 2025: A Year of Contradictions in Nigerian Agriculture NIGERIA’S agricultural and food systems sector in 2025 unfolded as a study in contrasts. On one hand, the year recorded notable increases in yields of key staples such as rice, maize, yam, and cassava. Improved farming practices, favourable rainfall patterns, expanded dry-season farming, and […]
THE ECONOMIC AND LIVELIHOOD IMPACT OF AILING COTTON AND TEXTILE INDUSTRY Job-Rich Sector Faces Decline NIGERIA’S cotton, textile, and garment (CTG) sector—historically a major employer and foreign exchange earner—is under severe strain. In 2025, production levels remained below sustainable thresholds, with ginneries operating at minimal capacity and many textile firms closing. Stakeholders warn that the […]
By ALIYU AMINU ABUBAKAR ABDULLAHI (A. A. A. A.) SHEHU TRADE AND MARKET ACCESS FOCUS NIGERIA and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) aimed at expanding trade, improving market access and attracting increased investment between both countries. The agreement was signed in Abu Dhabi, according to a statement […]
By FIDELUS ZWANSON Growth Outlook and Reform Impact Focus NIGERIA’S economic prospects have received a major boost after the World Bank revised upward its growth forecast for Africa’s largest economy, projecting the strongest expansion in more than a decade. In its Global Economic Prospects report for 2026 released on Tuesday, the World Bank said Nigeria’s […]
DEAP Capital Targets Africa’s Critical Minerals Financing Gap DEAP Capital Management & Trust Plc has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to roll out a minerals and metals financing initiative across Africa, aimed at improving access to capital for operators in the continent’s fast-growing critical minerals sector. In a statement to the […]
By OBIOMA TORI NDIC Declares ₦24.3 Billion Second Liquidation Dividend for Heritage Bank Depositors THE Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has announced the disbursement of a second liquidation dividend of ₦24.3 billion to depositors of the now-defunct Heritage Bank Limited, marking another milestone in efforts to safeguard customer funds and restore confidence in the nation’s […]
By FIDELUS ZWANSON THE Chairman of the Alliance for Economic Research and Ethics (AERE), Dele Kelvin Oye, has warned that certain provisions of the Nigeria Tax Act 2025 could undermine the objectives of the reform if not reviewed to reflect economic realities. Oye identified the cap on rent relief—limited to ₦500,000 annually—and restrictions on foreign […]
Nigeria First: A Familiar Promise, A Familiar Failure FOR decades, successive Nigerian governments have proclaimed their commitment to industrialisation and local production. Yet the country’s manufacturing sector continues to tell a story of stagnation, decline, and missed opportunities. The much-publicised “Nigeria First” policy of the Bola Tinubu administration, like similar initiatives before […]
By OBIOMA TORI 24–48 Hours That Define a Value Chain NIGERIA’S cassava economy is uniquely constrained by time. The crop must be processed within 24 to 48 hours after harvest, a factor that has exposed severe weaknesses in aggregation and supply coordination. According to Kabir Shagaya, Director of Strategy at Cavista Holdings, “Half […]