BUSINESS
CBN Committed To Achieving Monetary, Price Stability – Cardoso
…..CBN Committed To Achieving Monetary, Price Stability
By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has reaffirmed its commitment to achieving monetary and price stability in the Nigerian economy.
CBN Governor, Mr Olayemi Cardoso who stated this in his keynote address at the 58th Annual Bankers Dinner in Lagos pointed out that the bank’s policies are geared towards ensuring a more stable exchange rate, controlling inflation, and creating an enabling environment for businesses and individuals to thrive.
He said, “Our commitment to achieving monetary and price stability is not just a technical objective, but it has real-life implications for the well-being of our citizens.
“Through targeted policies, transparent market operations, and coordination between monetary and fiscal authorities, we can ensure a more stable exchange rate, control inflation, and create an enabling environment for businesses and individuals to thrive”.
The 58th Annual Bankers Dinner, held at the Eko Hotels Lagos, also marked the grand finale of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria’s 60th Anniversary, which underscores its six decades of commitment to professionalism, integrity, and innovation in the banking and finance sector.
Cardoso in his address also highlighted the importance of good corporate governance in underpinning financial stability and supporting economic growth.
“Under my leadership, the Central Bank of Nigeria will tackle institutional deficiencies, restore corporate governance, strengthen regulations, and implement prudent policies.
“We assure investors and the business community that the economy will experience significant stability in the short-to-medium term as we recalibrate our policy toolkits and implement far-reaching measures”.
Meanwhile, the new CBN helmsman in line with the renewed vision of the apex bank is to have ordered the deployment of eight directors to the Financial Sector Surveillance (FSS) Department in the Maitama office.
The decision has raised concerns among staff members who fear that it could be a prelude to more redeployments and possibly layoffs.
The FSS Department is often seen as a less prestigious posting within the CBN, and the redeployment of eight directors there has been likened to being sent to “Siberia.”
The move has fueled speculation that the CBN is under pressure to re-jig its workforce and more redeployment could be in the offing.
The redeployment which began over two weeks ago is said to have generated anxiety among other staff members of the bank.
Economy
Investors Gain N183bn on NGX
The Nigerian Exchange Ltd. (NGX) continued its bullish trend on Wednesday, gaining N183 billion.
Accordingly, the market capitalisation, which opened at N59.532 trillion, gained N184 billion or 0.31 per cent to close at N59.715 trillion.
The All-Share Index also added 0.31 per cent or 303 points, to settle at 98,509.
68, against 98,206. 97 recorded on Tuesday.Consequently, the Year-To-Date (YTD) return increased to 31.
74 per cent.Gains in Aradel Holdings, Zenith Bank, United Bank For Africa(UBA), Oando Plc, Nigerian Breweries among other advanced equities drove the market performance up.
Market breadth closed positive with 34 gainers and 17 losers.
On the gainers’ chart, Africa Prudential, Conoil and RT Briscoe led by 10 per cent each to close at N14.30, N352 and N2.42 per share, respectively.
Golden Guinea Breweries followed by 9.95 per cent to close at N7.18, while NEM Insurance rose by 9.74 per cent to close at N10.70 per share.
On the other hand, Julius Berger led the losers’ chart by 10 per cent to close at N155.25, Secure Electronic Technology Plc trailed by 9.52 per cent to close at 57k per share.
Multiverse lost 7.63 per cent to close at N5.45, Haldane McCall dropped 6.07 per cent to close at N4.95 and Honeywell Flour shed 5.62 per cent to close at N4.70 per share.
Analysis of the market activities showed trade turnover settled lower relative to the previous session, with the value of transactions down by 49.44 per cent.
A total of 320.10 million shares valued at N6.48 billion were exchanged in 7,943 deals, compared with 939.41 million shares valued at N12.81billion traded in 9,098 deals posted in the previous session.
Meanwhile, ETranzact led the activity chart in volume with 70.27 million shares, while Aradel led in value of deals worth N1.22 billion.(NAN)
Economy
Yuan Weakens to 7.1870 Against Dollar
The central parity rate of the Chinese currency renminbi, or the Yuan, weakened 22 pips to 7.1870 against the dollar on Monday.This is according to the China Foreign Exchange Trade System.In China’s spot foreign exchange market, the Yuan is allowed to rise or fall by two per cent from the central parity rate each trading day.
The central parity rate of the Yuan against the dollar is based on a weighted average of prices offered by market makers before the opening of the interbank market each business day. (Xinhua/NAN)Economy
Bring Kaduna Refinery Back into Operation, Youth Group Urges NNPCL
Arewa Youths Initiative for Energy Reforms (AYIFER), has urged Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) to do everything possible to bring Kaduna Refinery back into operation.
National Coordinator of the group, Mr Bashir Al’Amin, stated this in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja.
Al’Amin specifically called on the Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, Mallam Mele Kyari, to do all within his powers to rejuvenate the refinery and bring it up to global standard.
He said that having delivered the Port Harcourt refinery, coupled with the establishment of Dangote Refinery in Lagos, attention should be shifted to Kaduna refinery for easy spread of petroleum products.
“We are calling on Malam Mele Kyari to expedite action on Kaduna refinery so we can be at par with other regions in the country.
“We equally beg the NNPCL to do professional work in rehabilitating the old refinery and deliver a standard and functional petrochemical refinery and not a blending plant.
“Kyari should resist any temptation that could make him do something that can jeopardise his good image,” he said.
Al’Amin said that since the extinction of groundnut pyramid and textiles in Kano State as well as PAN in Kaduna State and with the Kaduna refinery getting moribund, a lot of youths had lost their jobs.
According to him, all their hopes in the north are tied to the legacy refinery, expressing the hope that God would use Kyari to deliver it well and on time.
He said that the group was solidly behind NNPCL in prayer and would be ready to celebrate the company if its expectations were met. (NAN)