Morning Beats

CBN begins N26b agribusiness, SMEs cash disbursement

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday commenced the disbursement of N26 billion Agribusiness/Small and Medium Enterprises Investment Scheme (AGSMEIS) fund contributed by all deposit money banks to finance eligible projects, CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele said.The Nation

Inflation drops to 13.34 per cent

Nigeria’s inflation rate measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) dropped from 14.33 in February to 13.34 per cent in March year-on-year, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) CPI report for March has shown.The Nation

PenCom: Desk officers need training on CPS

The National Pension Commission (PenCom) has stressed the need to train desk officers for effective implementation of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).The Nation

SMEDAN seeks more funding for MSMEs

Supporting Micro Small and Medium Enterprises through funding and other operational tools will boost their contributions to economic development, the Director-General, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Dikko Radda, has said.The Nation

NIRSAL moves to ensure food security

The Nigerian Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) has entered into a partnership with the world's largest crop chemical producer to ensure food security for Nigeria.The Nation

The cost of non-passage of PIB, by NUPENG

About $200 billion has been lost in the last eight years to the non-passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).The Nation

 Millers’ 50 threshers to boost wheat production

The Flour Milling Association of Nigeria (FMAN) has donated 50 AMAR multi-crop threshers to the Wheat Farmers Association of Nigeria as a demonstration of its commitment to boosting production capacity.The Nation

Improved sales, cost efficiency boost May & Baker’s PBT by 75 %

May & Baker Nigeria Plc has recorded significant growth in major financial indices as its Profit Before Tax, PBT for the year ended March 31, 2017 rose by 75 percent to N605.6 million from N345.94 million in 2016.Vanguard

NSE: Bargain hunting to prevail ahead of QI‘18 earnings release

As the first quarter 2018, Q1’18, draws close, investment bankers and financial analysts have said that bargain hunters will rule the equities market pending the commencement of release of Q1’18 results by quoted companies.Vanguard

CBN to intensify liquidity mop-up as inter-bank battles N1.2trn excess liquidity

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is expected to intensify its liquidity mop-up operations this week to address the build up in excess liquidity in the interbank money market which rose to N1.2 trillion last week.Vanguard

‘NCC’ll continue to tackle multiple taxation, regulation’

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has restated its determination to address the twin-evil of multiple taxation and regulation in the telecoms industry.The Nation

Nigerian Breweries records N33b profit for 2017

Brewery giant Nigerian Breweries Plc on Wednesday said it recorded a N33 billion Profit after Tax (PAT) for the financial year ended December 31, 2017, on a revenue of N344 billion.The Nation

NSE market indices record marginal loss of 0.09%

Activities on the Nigerian Stock Exchange ( NSE ) closed on Thursday on a downward trend with the market indices dropping marginally by 0.09 per cent.The Nation

No controversy over lifting Oando ‘s technical suspension, says SEC

The Secuties and Exchange Commission ( SEC ) yesterday clarified that there was no controversy over the lifting of the suspension on trading in the shares of  Oando PlcThe Nation

We’re fighting unemployment with modular refineries, says FG

The Federal Government has identified the establishment of modular refineries in the Niger Delta and the sustenance of the Amnesty Programme as part of its efforts at fighting unemployment.Punch

20 Senate sub-committees delaying 2018 budget – Saraki

The President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, at the plenary on Thursday, insisted on today’s (Friday) deadline issued to standing committees to represent their reports on the 2018 budgets proposed by the Federal Government’s Ministries, Departments and Agencies.Punch

UBA, Seplat, two others to join NSE Premium Board

The Nigerian Stock Exchange has announced that it will migrate Access Bank Plc, Lafarge Africa Plc, Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc and United Bank for Africa Plc to its Premium Board on Monday, April 16, 2018.Punch

NACCIMA worries over new population figure

The Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce Industry Mines and Agriculture has expressed concerns over the implications of the population figure released by the National Population Commission, which estimates the population to be 198 million, making Nigeria the seventh largest country in the worldPunch

Nigeria, Malaysia establish special trade corridor

The Nigeria-Malaysia Business Council has collaborated with the Nigeria Export Promotion Council and the Malaysia Department of Trade to set up a special trade corridor that will enable Malaysian businesses and Nigerian farmers and exporters to collaborate with a view to adding quality to goods exported from Nigeria to Malaysia.Punch

Unilever partners local farmers to reduce importation

In line with the Federal Government’s strategy to deepen the quality of growth through the backward integration policy, Unilever Nigeria Plc has expressed its support for the policy through its ‘Partner to Win’ initiative.Punch

Dangote, others boost wheat production with threshing machines

Dangote Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc and other key stakeholders in the flour milling industry have donated 50 units AMAR multi-crop threshers to wheat farmers in the country, as part of their commitment to aid self sufficiency in wheat production.Guardian

NB Plc strategises to assuage alcohol levies on consumers

With the proposed excise duty on tobacco and alcoholic beverages set to be implemented in a few weeks, Nigerian Breweries Plc has announced plans to assuage the impact of such increase, which will be transferred to consumers, by intensifying its cost-saving measures.Guardian

Dangote Cement, Unilever, others lead stock market N14b loss

Following price losses suffered by most blue-chip companies, especially Dangote Cement and Unilever Nigeria Plc, transactions on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) was on a downturn yesterday, as market capitalisation dipped by N14 billion.Guardian

Nigeria Rate-Cut Hope Lives as Inflation Slows to Two-Year Low

Nigerian inflation slowed for a 14th straight month in March, taking consumer-price growth below the benchmark interest rate for the first time in two years and opening the door for a rate cut.Blommberg

Public investments top economic growth driver

Heavy public investments and consumption have elevated the government to become the key driver of Kenya’s economic growth in the past four years, a newly released World Bank report says.Business Daily