Business
CBN pegs microfinance banks loan per transaction at N1m
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has pegged maximum loan limit for Microfinance Banks (MfBs) at N1 million per transaction.
The apex bank gave this directive in a circular to all MfBs titled: Cessation of non-permissible activities by MfBs”.
The MfB operators were also strictly prohibited from engaging in foreign exchange transactions.
The CBN further directed the MfBs to primarily focus on providing financial services to retail and/or micro clients, microcredit and retail transactions not exceeding N500,000 per transaction for tier 2 unit MFBs and N1 million for other categories.
Also, micro credit facilities shall constitute a minimum of 80 per cent of total loans portfolio for MFBs.
The apex bank also warned MfBs to desist from offering non-permissible activities, especially foreign exchange and wholesale banking transactions.
The regulator noted that it observed that some MFBs are engaging in non-permissible activities which pose risk to the financial system.
The circular, which was signed by the Director of Financial Policy and Regulation Department, Ibrahim Tukur, stated: “The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has observed the activities of some MFBs that have gone beyond the remit of their operating licenses by engaging in non-permissible activities, especially wholesale banking, foreign exchange transactions and others.
“Given the comparatively low capitalization of MFBs, dealing in wholesale and/or foreign exchange transactions are a significant risk with dire consequences for financial system stability thus, therefore, become imperative to remind all MFBs to strictly comply with the extant Revised Regulatory and Supervisory Guidelines for MFBs in Nigeria 2012 (the guidelines).
The CBN promised it will continue to monitor developments in the MfB sector and apply severe regulatory sanctions for breaches of extant regulations, including revoking the licence of non-compliant MfBs.
Business
NNPC Raises Petrol Price to ₦933 in Lagos, ₦960 in Abuja
NNPC Raises Petrol Price to ₦933 in Lagos, ₦960 in Abuja
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) has increased the pump price of petrol at its retail stations to ₦933 per litre in Lagos and ₦960 per litre in Abuja, triggering fresh concerns among motorists and businesses over rising fuel costs in Nigeria.
The national oil company raised the price by ₦103 in Lagos, moving from ₦830 per litre to ₦933, while motorists in the federal capital Abuja now pay ₦960 per litre, representing an ₦85 increase from the previous ₦875 price.
Checks on Wednesday showed that the new petrol price has already been implemented at several NNPC retail outlets, including stations at Apple Junction and Ago Palace Way in Lagos, while stations along Airport Road in Lugbe, Abuja, were dispensing petrol at the new ₦960 rate.
The latest fuel price hike comes shortly after the Dangote Petroleum Refinery increased its ex-gantry petrol price to ₦874 per litre on March 2, up from ₦774 per litre, a development that has influenced retail pricing across the downstream petroleum sector.
Industry analysts say the rise in petrol prices in Nigeria is closely linked to growing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, which have unsettled global energy markets and pushed up crude oil prices.
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Recent market data shows that Brent crude oil rose to about $85 per barrel on March 3, compared with around $72 per barrel recorded on February 28, intensifying pressure on petrol landing costs for markets that still rely partly on imports.
Experts note that Nigeria’s deregulated fuel market means pump prices now fluctuate in response to international oil prices, exchange rate volatility, and supply chain costs.
Meanwhile, the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has called on the federal government to ensure steady crude oil supply to domestic refineries, particularly as Nigeria seeks to strengthen local refining capacity.
The association warned that continued instability in global oil markets could weaken the naira, raise petrol prices further, and push inflation higher, thereby worsening the cost-of-living challenges faced by Nigerians.
Energy stakeholders have also stressed the importance of expanding local refining operations, including production from the Dangote refinery and rehabilitation of government-owned refineries, to reduce dependence on imported fuel.
The latest price adjustment reflects the ongoing transition in Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector following the removal of fuel subsidies and the adoption of a market-driven pricing system.
Motorists across Lagos, Abuja and other major cities have expressed concern that rising petrol prices could increase transportation costs, food prices and overall inflation, placing additional pressure on households and businesses.
NNPC Raises Petrol Price to ₦933 in Lagos, ₦960 in Abuja
Business
TCAN Targets Logistics Reforms to Drive Economic Growth at 2026 Transport Summit
TCAN Targets Logistics Reforms to Drive Economic Growth at 2026 Transport Summit
The Transportation Correspondents Association of Nigeria (TCAN) has begun preparations for its 2026 Annual Transport Summit, placing Nigeria’s logistics value chain at the centre of national economic discourse.
Scheduled for September 2026 in Lagos, the summit will be held under the theme, “Unlocking Economic Growth Through Transportation Logistics.”
It is expected to draw major stakeholders across the aviation, maritime, rail and road transport sectors, alongside logistics service providers, policymakers, regulators, development partners and financial institutions.
In a statement, TCAN said the summit would critically examine how efficient transportation logistics can serve as a catalyst for sustainable economic growth, trade facilitation, job creation and regional integration, especially in the context of ongoing reforms and infrastructure investments within the sector.
Chairman of TCAN, Tola Adenubi, described transportation logistics as the backbone of economic development, stressing that the performance of Nigeria’s logistics ecosystem directly impacts the nation’s competitiveness.
“From cargo handling at airports and seaports to inland freight movement and last-mile delivery systems, the efficiency of Nigeria’s logistics architecture plays a decisive role in determining the competitiveness of the nation’s economy,” Adenubi said.
He noted that the 2026 summit would explore innovative strategies to strengthen the sector, including digital transformation, infrastructure financing models, public-private partnerships and regulatory reforms aimed at optimising performance.
Chairman of the 2026 Conference Committee, Suleiman Idris, said the summit would feature high-level panel discussions, keynote addresses and interactive sessions designed to assess the current state of Nigeria’s transportation logistics framework.
According to him, deliberations will focus on identifying bottlenecks hindering seamless cargo and passenger movement, examining the impact of multimodal transport integration on economic expansion, and highlighting investment opportunities within the logistics and supply chain ecosystem.
Idris added that experts at the summit would also provide policy recommendations targeted at enhancing operational efficiency and boosting Nigeria’s global competitiveness in trade and transportation.
As part of the programme, TCAN will confer its Champions of Transport Industry Development (COTID) certificates on selected government agencies and private operators that have made significant contributions to the advancement of Nigeria’s transportation sector.
Over the years, the TCAN Annual Transport Summit has evolved into a credible platform for constructive engagement between regulators, operators and other industry stakeholders.
The association said the 2026 edition aims to deepen policy conversations, promote transparency and accountability, and accelerate reforms capable of unlocking the full economic potential of Nigeria’s transport and logistics industry.
With logistics increasingly recognised as a key enabler of economic growth, industry observers expect the 2026 summit to set the tone for fresh strategies that could reshape Nigeria’s transportation landscape in the years ahead.
Business
Petrol Jumps to ₦937 in Lagos, ₦975 in Abuja Amid Middle East Oil Crisis
Petrol Jumps to ₦937 in Lagos, ₦975 in Abuja Amid Middle East Oil Crisis
Nigeria’s fuel market is under renewed strain as escalating tensions in the Middle East push global crude oil prices above $80 per barrel, driving domestic petrol prices toward the ₦1,000 per litre mark. Motorists across the country, from Lagos to Abuja, have woken to sharp increases at filling stations, with pump prices rising almost overnight.
In Lagos, several outlets raised the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) from ₦830–₦835 per litre to ₦937, while in the Federal Capital Territory, major retailers including NNPC Limited and MRS Oil Nigeria Plc increased prices from ₦875 to ₦975 per litre. Independent marketers were dispensing fuel at about ₦960 per litre, reflecting the immediate effects of rising international oil prices.
The surge followed a fresh upward review in the ex-depot price by Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals, which moved its gantry price from ₦774 to approximately ₦874–₦875 per litre. Industry insiders linked the hike to rising replacement costs and the ongoing surge in crude prices. A senior refinery official confirmed that petrol loading operations were temporarily suspended earlier in the week, further tightening supply expectations and accelerating retail price adjustments.
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The Middle East conflict, particularly involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, has heightened fears of disruption around the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic maritime route responsible for nearly one-fifth of global crude supply. Analysts warn that prolonged instability in the corridor could push global oil prices to $100 per barrel or higher, with direct consequences for Nigeria’s cost-reflective petrol pricing system.
The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) described the situation as worrisome, noting that rising crude prices inevitably feed into domestic pump prices, given the current deregulated pricing regime. PETROAN’s National President, Mr Billy Gillis-Harry, emphasized the urgent need to strengthen Nigeria’s domestic refining capacity as a protective buffer. The association also called for consistent crude supply to local refineries and accelerated rehabilitation of the country’s four state-owned refineries to cushion the economy against external shocks.
For Nigerians, the impact has been immediate. Commercial drivers and commuters report that rising fuel costs are forcing them to adjust transport fares, adding pressure to household budgets. “I bought fuel yesterday at ₦875, and this morning it is ₦975. Every increase affects us directly. If we don’t raise fares, we run at a loss,” said Mr. Chinedu Okeke, a driver in Abuja.
Commuters fear the ripple effect of higher petrol costs on everyday goods. “If fuel is almost ₦1,000 per litre, it means fares and prices of essentials will rise. Things are becoming unbearable,” said Mrs. Aisha Ladan, a civil servant in the capital city. Analysts warn that increased transport costs could widen inflationary pressures, as businesses pass on higher operational expenses to consumers.
The psychological impact of petrol nearing the four-digit mark is also significant. For many Nigerians, it represents another milestone in a period already marked by subsidy removal, currency volatility, and persistent price adjustments. Unless global energy markets stabilize or domestic refining capacity is expanded, petrol prices in Nigeria may soon cross ₦1,000 per litre, with broad implications for the economy.
Petrol Jumps to ₦937 in Lagos, ₦975 in Abuja Amid Middle East Oil Crisis
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