BUSINESS
Nigerian Equities N Gains 602bn Despite Lull
After rallying N7.76 trillion in net capital gains in two successive years, Nigerian equities are set for their third year with net capital gains of N602.02 billion at the weekend, bucking a generally negative opening trend in the global stock markets.
Benchmark indices at the stock market at the weekend showed average return of 2.
66 per cent for the four-day opening trading week for the year, equivalent to net capital gains of N602. 02 billion. The rally was driven by upsurge in open market orders for large and mid-cap stocks as companies begin preparations to release their audited reports and dividends for the 2021 business year.The benchmark index for the Nigerian stock market, the All Share Index (ASI) of the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) closed weekend at 43,854.
42 points as against 42,716.44 points recorded at the beginning of the week. The ASI is a value-based common index that tracks all share prices at the NGX. It is regarded as the Nigerian sovereign equities index, a broad measure of the stock market.Most analysts at the weekend said there were strong possibilities that share prices would continue to rise in the meantime citing the onset of the earnings season and increasing attractiveness of Nigerian equities to global investors.
Analysts at Afrinvest Securities said they expected “the positive performance to be sustained as more investors take position ahead of the dividend season”.
“In the new week, we expect the equities market to remain upbeat as investors continue to position in readiness for dividend distributions in the first quarter of 2022,” investment analysts at Cowry Asset Management stated.
Analysts at Cordros Capital also supported a bullish outlook for Nigerian equities.
“In the near term, we believe positioning for 2021 full year dividends will continue to support buying activities in the market even as institutional investors continue to search for clues on the direction of yields in the fixed income market.
“However, we advise investors to take positions in only fundamentally justified stocks as the weak macro environment remains a significant headwind for corporate earnings,” Cordros Capital stated.
The upwardly performance of the Nigerian stocks was contrary to the general decline at the global stock market. From America to Europe, Asia and Middle East, global stocks closed the first trading week of 2022 negative. In United States, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) dropped by 0.3 per cent while the S & P 500 Index depreciated by 1.5 per cent. Europe’s broad index, STOXX Europe declined by 0.2 per cent. Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index dropped by 1.1 per cent while China’s SSE Index dipped by 1.7 per cent. The MSCI EM, which tracks global emerging markets dropped by 1.2 per cent while the MSCI FM which tracks frontier markets posted average negative return of -0.9 per cent. However, United Kingdom’s FTSE 100 Index recorded average positive return of 0.8 per cent.
Aggregate market value of quoted companies at the NGX rose by 5.97 per cent or N1.33 trillion to close weekend at N23.628 trillion as against the year’s opening value of N22.297 trillion. The difference between the ASI and market value growth rates was due to the listing of BUA Foods Plc during the week and the delisting of Studio Press Nigeria Plc and Union Diagnostic and Clinical Services Plc. A total of 18 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each of BUA Foods were listed at N40 per share, adding N720 billion to market capitalisation.
Total turnover at the NGX stood 2.03 billion shares worth N59.01 billion in 15,750 deals compared with a total of 995.36 million shares valued at N13.21 billion traded in 10,264 deals two weeks ago.
Newly listed BUA Foods lifted the consumer goods sector atop activity chart with 1.255 billion shares valued at N 51.973 billion in 2,581 deals; thus contributing 61.90 per cent and 88.07 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value. The financial services sector followed with 537.96 million shares worth N4.627 billion in 8,015 deals while information and communication technology (ICT) sector placed third with a turnover of 76.906 million shares worth N704.346 million in 933 deals.
The three most active stocks were BUA Foods Plc, Wema Bank Plc, and Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc. They accounted for 1.349 billion shares worth N51.253 billion in 1,120 deals, contributing 67 per cent and 86.85 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.
By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
The Commissioner for Insurance/CEO, Mr. Olusegun Ayo Omosehin, and his management team have met with the members of the Constitutional Committee on “Mobilisation and Diversification” of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission ( RMAFC) led by Engr.
During their working visit to NAICOM Headquarters, Mr. Olusegun Ayo Omosehin, in his opening remarks, reaffirmed the critical role of the insurance sector regulator in supervising, regulating, and safeguarding the interests of insurance policyholders.
He highlighted insurance’s pivotal role in mobilising savings for long-term developmental projects and enabling businesses to thrive while managing risks effectively.
He also stressed the Commission’s commitment to ensuring insurance companies meet their obligations, thus contributing to the sustainability of the economy.
Speaking, Mohammed Baba emphasised the importance of revenue generation, institutional expansion, and employment creation for Nigerians through collaborative efforts.
The Commissioner for Insurance also acknowledged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ambitious goal of growing the Nigerian economy to One Trillion United States Dollars ($1 trillion) by 2026.
He expressed the insurance sector’s intent to significantly contribute to this objective. Additionally, he mentioned ongoing efforts to embed insurance within the National Credit Scheme to ensure its sustainability.
Mr. Omosehin stressed the need for continuous advocacy and sensitization of government institutions about the vital role of insurance in national economic development.
From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
No fewer than 22,000 beneficiaries in Kogi will get N50,000 each, under the Presidential Conditional Grant Scheme (PCGS) to boost Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the state
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO) of Kogi Enterprise Development Agency (KEDA), Hon.
Okeji said the PCGS was being implemented by the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment through the Bank of Industry (BOI) in partnership with the Kogi Government in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
He noted that the PCGS enrollment for beneficiaries of Nano businesses was flagged by Kogi Government simultaneously on Wednesday across the three senatorial districts in Okene, Ankpa and Kabba respectively.
He disclosed that over 22,000 beneficiaries across the 21 local government areas of Kogi would receive N50,000 each as grant to boost their nano businesses and improve sustainability.
According to him, about 1070 beneficiaries would get the grant from each of the 21 local government areas across the state.
“The PCGS is aimed at ameliorating the harrowing effects of the fuel subsidy removal, to provide a one-off grant of N50,000 to over 22,000 Nano business owners across Kogi State.
“We are grateful to Mr President for the impactful initiative at a time of stiff economic challenges for both businesses and the generality of Nigerian citizens.
“Mr President’s gesture is a sensitive step towards safeguarding the small business ecosystem which is the lifewire of the nation’s economy,” he said.
Okeji expressed gratitude to Gov. Ahmed Ododo for keying into the initiative and providing the adequate resources required to draw down the benefits to thousands of Kogi Nano businesses.
This, he said the governor was fulfilling his determination to strengthen the MSMEs which remained the backbone of the nation’s economy.
He added: “We thank our governor for swinging into action to provide the needed resources to complement the effort of the federal government in flagging off the scheme across Kogi.
“As we embark on this journey of empowering our Nano businesses today, let me remind you that you are the backbone of our economy.
“As such, the government of our dear Gov. Ahmed Ododo is determined to provide all the support that will boost your capacity and survival. We will not let you fail”, Okeji assured.
In his remarks, the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, HRM Alh. Ahmed Tijani-Anaje, commended President Tinubu for the timely initiative, and eulogised the governor for ensuring that a larger number of Kogi citizens benefited from the scheme.
Our Correspondent reports that Okeji subsequently went round the state to monitor the enrollment exercise in Kabba and Lokoja.
Okeji further said that the enrollment exercise which was being conducted by officials of BoI, was expected to continue till Friday, while disbursement follows immediately.
One of the beneficiaries, Oyiza Bajeh from Adavi, thanked the President for the gesture, and appreciated the Governor for deeming it fit to bring the program to the grassroots.
“When I received a text message from BOI to come for data capture, I dismissed it as one of those scams. But upon a second thought, I decided to give it a tryer.
“Surprisingly, I met a huge crowd of market women, youth and even people with disabilities gathered here at the Ohinoyi palace for the exercise.
“We are very grateful to President Tinubu and Governor Ododo for the gesture,” Bajeh said.
By Ubong Ukpong, Abuja
The Accountant General of the Federation, Mrs Oluwatoyin Madein on Wednesday said total revenue inflows to the Federal Government in the first quarter of 2024 amounted to N318.5 billion.
She disclosed this in a hearing by the House of Representatives Committee on Finance to monitor the revenue by agencies of the Federal Government.
Represented by the Director, Revenue Expenses, Felix Ogundayero, she said this was against a total expected revenue of N2. 591 trillion for the year 2024.
She added that a reconciliation of the figures was still ongoing and what was declared is what is available at the moment.
Madein expressed confidence that it would be an exceptional year in terms of revenue for the country based on the policies of the present administration.
She said the bottom up cash planning policy would be adopted in implementing the 2024 budget.
She said, “Reconciliation is still being done but the total revenue inflows to the federal government for January to March amounts to N318. 5 billion as against a total budget of 2.691 trillion.
“For the budget, the bottom up cash planning policy is on course and the 2024 budget is going to be implemented via that policy and officers have been retained and sensitization is ongoing to ensure that MDAs are well equipped on the modalities and conditionalities,” he said.
Chairman of the Committee, Hon James Faleke, said the essence of the sitting was in line with their duty as a parliament to oversee to ensure that the revenue estimates which were submitted by each agency before the 2024 appropriation bill was passed into law are met.
He said, “We have to ensure that those estimates are met. The Appropriation has become a law and so that revenue that you proposed to generate in the year we take it upon ourselves to do it on a quarterly basis to measure your performance.
“We want to ensure that revenue activities from January to March are in line with your appropriation. When you are giving us your figure, you tell us what the figure was expected for the generation and what you have achieved. Also tell us your expenditure,” Faleke said.
Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI), Dr Armstrong Takang, also disclosed that so far N101 billion have been declared as dividends by some agencies under it.
He said the report presented was not comprehensive as some agencies were yet to declare their dividends due to various factors.
He said, “So far we have received dividends declared by some companies. But for many others their reports are either being prepared and have not been completed or have been completed but they have not gone to their boards for approval and subsequently the AGM and as such we cannot use the number of their dividends until that has been done based on the corporate governance rules.
“Based on the number so far, it’s about N101 billion from the entities we have identified. We continue with other entities whose dividends have not been paid to ensure we go through the process of them passing it at the board level and the AGM before the figures are sent to us and the money rendered to the treasury.”
The Chairman of the Committee, Faleke, directed that all the agencies under MOFI should produce their annual report for the past 10 years.
“All organisations under MOFI should produce their annual report for the past 10 years and the dividend that ought to have been paid, what ought to have been paid, and what was paid by each of the agencies, and of course evidence of payments,” Faleke said.
The House also berated the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation for performing far below expectations.
The Corporation, represented by Dr Philip Ashunze, had said out of a total expected revenue of N10 billion, it had only generated N70 million so far.
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