Africa Energy Bank begins operations Jan 2025, says FG – Newstrends
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Africa Energy Bank begins operations Jan 2025, says FG

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Africa Energy Bank begins operations Jan 2025, says FG

The Federal Government has designated January 28, 2025, as the deadline for operationalizing the $5 billion Africa Energy Bank in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.

A Nigerian delegation, led by Amb. Nicholas Agbo Ella, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and Executive Board Member representing Nigeria at the African Petroleum Producers Organization (APPO), announced the timeline during the 19th Executive Board Meeting of the organization in Yaounde, Cameroon.

Amb. Ella emphasized Nigeria’s commitment to APPO’s ideals and the prompt establishment of the energy bank in Abuja.

He further stated that the Africa Energy Bank (AEB) aims to bridge financing gaps within the continent’s oil and gas industry.

“Nigeria won the hosting right for the establishment of the Africa Energy Bank (AEB) Headquarters in July 2024, after it competed with Ghana, Algeria, South Africa, and Benin Republic. 

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“I am pleased to address the Executive Board (EB) meeting on this very important subject matter – the take-off of the Africa Energy Bank Headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria.” 

“As you are no doubt aware, the Headquarters building (of the Africa Energy Bank) was inspected by the Technical Team on 24th May 2024, and renovation works for its completion are ongoing. Nigeria is fully committed to delivering the building with furnishing to the bank in good time. 

“We have the full support and cooperation of Mr. President, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, and our National Assembly to actualise this project in Nigeria,” he said.

Nigeria’s Equity Contribution to the Bank  

Regarding Nigeria’s equity contribution to the Africa Energy Bank, Amb. Ella stated that Nigeria is actively working to fulfill its share.

He noted that, in addition to an earlier payment of $59.1 million, the Federal Government made an additional $10 million contribution to the APPO account last week.

He added that Nigeria intends to complete the full payment before the bank becomes operational.

Apart from the earlier payment of $59,120,000:00, an additional $10 million was paid into the APPO Account by the FGN (Nigeria) last week. We intend to make full payment before the bank takes off. 

“Nigeria wishes to advocate for the establishment and funding of the Africa Energy Bank as part of APPO’s budgetary plans. This initiative would not only address the financial needs of the energy sector but also provide a platform for mobilizing investments in oil and gas projects, which are vital for Africa’s economic growth and development.” Ella said.

Africa Energy Bank begins operations Jan 2025, says FG

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PH refinery: 200 trucks will load petroleum products daily, says Presidency

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Port Harcourt Refinery

PH refinery: 200 trucks will load petroleum products daily, says Presidency

No fewer than 200 trucks are set to load petroleum products at the government-owned Port Harcourt Refinery, the presidency has said.

A presidential spokesperson, Sunday Dare, made this known in a statement through his official X handle on Tuesday.

Newstrends had reported that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company on Tuesday announced that Port Harcourt Refinery has resumed operations and crude oil processing after years of inactivity.

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Reacting, Dare said, “200 trucks are expected to load products daily from the refinery, Renewing the Hopes of Nigeria.”

He added that “the Port Harcourt refinery has two wings.

“The Old Refinery comes on stream today with an installed production capacity of 60, 000 barrels per day of crude oil.”

 

PH refinery: 200 trucks will load petroleum products daily, says Presidency

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Breaking: CBN increases interest rate to 27.50%

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Breaking: CBN increases interest rate to 27.50%

 

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has raised the lending interest to 27.50 per cent from 27.25 per cent.

This latest increase in the Monetary Policy Rate came after a meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Monday and concluded Tuesday.

The Monetary Policy Rate measures the benchmark interest rate.

The CBN Governor, Yemi Cardoso, announced this in Abuja on Tuesday after the MPC meeting, last for the year, held at the apex bank’s headquarters.

He said the MPC voted unanimously to raise the MPR by 25 basis points from 27.25% to 27.50%; and retain the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) at 50% for Deposit Money Banks and 16% for Merchant Banks.

The CBN governor also said the MPC retained the Liquidity Ratio (LR) at 30% and Asymmetric Corridor at +500/-100 basis points around the MPR.

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Nigeria’s unemployment rate dropped to 4.3% in Q2 – NBS

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Nigeria’s unemployment rate dropped to 4.3% in Q2 – NBS

 

Nigeria’s unemployment rate stood at 4.3 per cent in the second quarter of 2024, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has said in its latest report.

The report released on Monday said the unemployment rate decreased compared to the 5.3 per cent recorded in the Q1 of 2024.

The NBS defined the unemployment rate as the share of the labour force (the combination of unemployed and employed people) who are not employed but actively searching and are available for work.

“The unemployment rate for Q2 2024 was 4.3%, showing an increase of 0.1 percentage point compared to the same period last year,” the report stated.

“The unemployment rate among males was 3.4% and 5.1% among females.

“By place of residence, the unemployment rate was 5.2% in urban areas and 2.8% in rural areas. Youth unemployment rate was 6.5% in Q2 2024, showing a decrease from 8.4% in Q1 2024.”

Report also said the unemployment rate among persons with post-secondary education was 4.8 per cent; 8.5 per cent among those with upper secondary education, 5.8 per cent for those with lower secondary education, and 2.8 per cent among those with primary education in Q2 2024.

Employment rate – 76%

The report showed that the employment-to-population ratio, which measures the number of employed workers against the total working-age population, increased to 76.1 per cent in Q2 2024.

“In Q2 2024, 76.1% of Nigeria’s working-age population was employed, up from 73.1% in Q1 2024,” the report stated.

Self-employment – 85.6%

The report further showed that Nigeria’s labour market saw a notable shift as the proportion of self-employed individuals increased in Q2 2024.

It stated, “The proportion of persons in self-employment in Q2 2024 was 85.6%.”

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