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Don’t Blame Emefiele for Depreciation of Naira- Group

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By Joseph Amah, Abuja

The Nigeria Patriotic Quest (NPQ), a group of Nigerian professionals, mostly based in the Diaspora, committed to persuading Godwin Ifeanyichukwu Emefiele to run in the presidential elections come 2023, yesterday said  the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor should not be blamed for the depreciation of the value of the Naira.

NPQ, in a statement signed by its Coordinator, Ahmed Ja’Usman Tijani, said rather than blame Emefiele, he should be hailed for ensuring  that the naira has not depreciated beyond its present value.

According to NPQ, the weak economic base of the country that is import dependent, among other factors, are responsible for the weak naira.

The group said: “The persistent and drastic drop in the price of crude oil starting from 2015 up till the end of 2020 dealt a heavy blow on  the Nigerian economy because its mono-product export nature. Some of us may recall that by end of March 2020, Nigeria’s Brent crude was averaging $25 per barrel with Bonny Light even doing worse at $21 per barrel. We should not forget, that it was at this time that several cargoes of Nigerian crude oil were sailing the high seas with no takers. We should further, bear in mind that this was at the time when Russia and Saudi Arabia were engaged in the mutually destructive oil price war that wreaked havoc on the economy of most oil-producing nations, especially Nigeria.

This situation affected the inflow of dollars into the economy and as can be expected led to the drop in the value of the Naira, due to a surfeit of Naira pursuing very scarce dollars. To put this in stark relief, the nation’s foreign reserves plunged from a high of $47 billion in 2012 to about $33 billion dollars in 2020.”NPQ said Emefiele and his team at the CBN should be given credit for how they managed the national economy at this very troubling time without it collapsing totally.

“The COVID-19 pandemic also dealt a heavy blow on the economy, as a result of the lockdown of most areas of national life and the resultant negative impact on productivity and employment. This impacted the Naira adversely due to the near drying-up of forex inflows from oil and non oil sectors. Another major factor affecting the value of the Naira is the nation’s very poor industrial and productive base.

We are an import dependent economy, as we import most of our major consumer and industrial goods including food, toiletries, textiles, cars, machineries etc. This resulted in very high demand for dollars in the face of ever dwindling forex inflows. Of course, this also impacted the value of the naira negatively,” the group said.

PQ explained that in 2021 when the price of crude oil began to recover appreciably, one would have thought that it is time to shout “uhuru.”“However, this was not the case, as we were not in a position to benefit from the high prices as a result of our low oil production capacity. We have consistently been unable to meet up with our OPEC production quota of 1.8 million barrels per day due to persistent vandalisation of oil pipelines and facilities. Coupled with this is the blatant stealing of sometimes over 60 per cent of crude production. This has meant that our production has hovered around 1.3 million barrels per day, unlike in the past when Nigeria had the capacity to produce up to 2 million or more barrels of oil per day.

It was recently revealed that on a survey of a 12 km pipeline section, 300 theft points were discovered, this amounts to one theft point every 40 metres. No oil company or indeed nation can survive this rate of theft of it’s resources, outside the huge costs of repeatedly repairing these facilities.  This is why Nigeria has not been able to benefit from the current high oil prices, sometimes in excess of $100 per barrel.

Instead, what we have harvested from this, as a result of theft and disgraceful lack of refining capacity, is imported inflation as we are forced to import refined petroleum products at the high prevailing international prices with the associated high petroleum subsidies.

These subsidies could have been invested in other productive sectors of the economy such as agriculture, industries and infrastructure, had it been we were able to fully leverage the benefits of being an oil-producing nation. As it stands now Nigeria sadly, cannot take advantage of the current boom in oil prices. The Naira definitely cannot fare better given such dire circumstances,” it said.

NPQ noted that despite our low dollar earnings, Nigeria still expends a disproportionate portion of our forex in funding medical tourism, foreign education and other services as a result of the poor state of most of our health and educational institutions. “As we speak now, ASUU is still on strike and nobody knows when the issues will be resolved. The continuous demand on the limited dollar reserves of the nation will continue to assert pressure on the value of the Naira leading to devaluation,” it said.

NPQ noted that all the issues that have negatively impacted the value of the Naira, non is within the direct purview or supervision of the CBN. “Despite these obvious facts, the detractors have gone to town heaping all the blame for the present state of the Naira on  Emefiele.

They have mischievously refused to acknowledge the fact that the present CBN under Emefiele has gone out of its way in search of solutions to the numerous problems facing the economy. These efforts have manifested in the diverse and very innovative intervention programmes cutting across agriculture, industries, energy, infrastructure,” it said.

Speaking on the solutions, the group said technology-driven security measures should be deployed to stop vandalism oil production facilities and theft of crude oil. “Implement policies to enhance the local production of most consumer goods, including motor vehicles. Improve our health care facilities at all levels in order to reduce the current huge amount of forex expended on medical tourism. Address the persistent issues around our educational sector by improving the quality and standards in our educational system.

This will reduce the need for many students to seek admission abroad. Resolve the crises affecting electricity, security and transport infrastructure. All these will help in boosting productivity across agriculture, manufacturing and other economic sectors,” the group said. NPQ stressed that the way and manner Emefiele has managed to combine the traditional duties of the CBN with interventions in the major sectors of the economy are the reasons for its  unflinching support for him to contest the presidency of Nigeria in 2023.

“We are staunch believers in his capacity, given the impact he has made in diverse areas of the economy. We assert, with all sense of responsibility, that without these critical interventions Nigeria would have been in a more precarious economic situation than we are now. Could we imagine if the right investments were not made in agriculture, especially rice, at the time it was made, how would we have been able to finance the rice armada from Thailand given the present situation of our economy?

We implore all patriotic Nigerians to judge Emefiele by his concrete achievements as CBN governor rather than listen to the discordant sounds from the echo chambers of detractors and political mercenaries. We strongly believe that Emefiele, if given the chance, will replicate his achievements in CBN on the national stage to the benefit and satisfaction of all citizens and residents of Nigeria,” the group said.

BUSINESS

CBN Unveils New Minimum Capital Requirements For Banks

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Gives Them 24 months To Recapitalise

By Tony Obiechina, Abuja 

 Days after urging Nigerian banks to expedite action on the recapitalisation of their capital base in order to strengthen the financial system, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Thursday, March 28, 2024, unveiled new minimum capital requirements for banks, pegging the minimum capital base for commercial banks with international authorisation at N500 Billion.

 

Confirming this in Abuja, on Thursday, March 28, 2024, the Acting Director, Corporate Communications Department, Mrs.

Hakama Sidi Ali said the new minimum capital base for commercial banks with national authorisation is now N200 Billion, while the new requirement for those with regional authorization is N50 Billion.
 

Mrs. Sidi Ali also disclosed that the new minimum capital for merchant banks would be N50 Billion, while the new requirements for non-interest banks with national and regional authorisations are N20 Billion and N10 Billion, respectively. 

A circular signed by the Director, Financial Policy and Regulation Department, Mr. Haruna Mustafa, to all commercial, merchant, and non-interest banks and promoters of proposed banks emphasized that all banks are required to meet the minimum capital requirement within 24 months commencing from April 1, 2024, and terminating on March 31, 2026

According to the circular, the move, initially disclosed by the CBN Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, in his address to the Annual Bankers’ Dinner in November 2023, was to enhance banks’ resilience, solvency, and capacity to continue supporting the growth of the Nigerian economy.   

To enable them to meet the minimum capital requirements, the CBN urged banks to consider inject fresh equity capital through private placements, rights issues and/or offers for subscription; Mergers and Acquisitions (M&As); and/or upgrade or downgrade of license authorisation.

Furthermore, the circular disclosed that the minimum capital shall comprise paid-up capital and share premium only. 

It stressed that the new capital requirement shall not be based on the Shareholders’ Fund.

“Additional Tier 1 (AT1) Capital shall not be eligible for meeting the new requirement. Notwithstanding the capital increase, banks are to ensure strict compliance with the minimum capital adequacy ratio (CAR) requirement applicable to their license authorisation.  

“In line with extant regulations, banks that breach the CAR requirement shall be required to inject fresh capital to regularise their position,” it added.

The CBN circular said the minimum capital requirement for proposed banks shall be paid-up capital, adding that the new minimum capital requirement shall apply to all new applications for banking licenses submitted after April 1, 2024. 

It noted that the CBN would continue to process all pending applications for banking licenses for which a capital deposit had been made and/or an Approval-in-Principle (AIP) had been granted. 

However, it said that the promoters of such proposed banks would make up the difference between the capital deposited with the CBN and the new capital requirement no later than March 31, 2026.

Meanwhile, the CBN said all banks are required to submit an implementation plan (clearly indicating the chosen option(s) for meeting the new capital requirement and various activities involved with their timelines) no later than April 30, 2024. 

The CBN also disclosed that it would l monitor and ensure compliance with the new requirements within the specified timeline.  

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Economy

Value Addition is new Standard in Mining Operations – Alake

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The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake has declared value addition as the new indispensable standard for mining operations in the country.

Alake made the declaration in a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr Segun Tomori, on Tuesday in Abuja.

The minister had earlier said that the federal government had resolved to ensure compliance to value addition before permitting investors to operate.

He said that his seven-point agenda for the ministry had placed the mining sector on the global front burner since assuming office, which had generated renewed interest from the international community in Nigeria`s mineral resources.

According to the statement, the minister lauded a mining company, African Natural Resources and Mines Ltd.

(ANRML), during an inspection tour in Kaduna State, for its 600 million dollar facility dedicated to the mining and processing of magnetite iron-ore.

He described the move as in line with the government`s resolve for value addition, which is especially apt given President Bola Tinubu`s quest to develop the solid minerals, to boost Nigeria`s economic profile and to meet the global upsurge in energy transition.

“The company aligns with our vision of value addition and beneficiation through its processing of iron-ore, and I urge other mining companies to take a cue from them, “ he said.

He reiterated the government`s commitment to abstain from granting mining licenses to companies that lack the necessary plans for value addition.

The minister acknowledged that resilience, courage and laying a solid foundation were critical in contributing to the company success.

He added that such factors also serve as guidelines for President Tinubu`s administration in its efforts for economic transformation.

“ We have set our minds in this administration and invariably in Nigeria to achieve success, that is why Mr President is restructuring the economy.

“When this company (ANRML) started seven years ago, we saw one of the foundations through the video documentary, the amount of concrete that went in to erect a foundation, just to carry a giant edifice.

“That is what we are going through. When we get through the gestation period, the results will manifest, and it will herald prosperity, “he said.

The minister had stated that no license would be granted to companies wishing to enter the mineral sector without presenting a plan for value addition, such as processing and refining which has multiplier effect on the economy. (NAN)

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BUSINESS

NASS Seeks Collaboration with WTO on Improving Digital, Marine Economies

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By Eze Okechukwu, Abuja

The Nigerian delegation at the on-going 148th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Geneva, Switzerland has sought the collaboration of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in the area of Digital and Marine economies.

Addressing the WTO media shortly after a courtesy visit to the Director General of the WTO, Dr Ngozi Okonjo Iweala in her office in Geneva on Monday, the leader of the Nigeria delegation, Senator Godswill Akpabio said the delegation were at the WTO to look for areas of collaboration with the organisation in the various sectors of the economy for the overall benefit of Nigerians.

According to him, “We used our attendance at the IPU to pay courtesy visit to one of Nigeria’s very costly export to the world, Dr Ngozi Okonjo Iweala; the Director General of the WTO.

We came to thank her for the job she is doing for the world and thank her staff for supporting and standing by her to succeed. We, in Nigeria are very proud of her.”

“We had discussions on the various developmental programmes of the WTO and we noticed that there were spaces where Nigerians can become major players. We discussed issues affecting trade back home in Nigeria and ways in which the National Assembly can assist in removing barriers, through legislation for the benefit of our people.

 “We also talked about issue of regulations concerning Digital economic contents, illegal finishing along the coastal states of Cross River, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa states. How Nigerian women could benefit from the recent program funded by the organization was also discussed. The establishment of a Digital trade portal, where-in, all trade information could be accessed by our people top our discussion with the WTO. “

Akpabio noted, “The deliberations were fruitful and we are confident that with our support in all of these, Nigerians would be the better for it.”

In his brief remarks, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu said, ” our best export to the world took her time to bring us up to speed on the various innovations and initiatives of the WTO and what Africa and Nigeria stand to benefit from. We are going back more refreshed because we have seen a space here for Africa to thrive in business and in trade.”

Speaking in the same vein, the WTO chief described the visit of the Senate president and the Deputy Speaker, to her office as “a huge honour. We were able to talk on those things we are doing at the WTO that would help make a material difference for Nigerians.

“We spoke of recent program that we launched in some development program from the standards and trade facilities to help in improving sanitary and vital sanitary standards for some of the crops in Nigeria, so that it helps in diversifying the economy to even fisheries and illegal mining of the waters of Nigeria.”

According to her, “A lot of things on the table have already been discussed. I am honoured by this visit and I am home-sick.”

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