Business
FG spent N2tn on debt servicing in six months – Finance minister
- N3tn released for capital projects
The Federal Government spent N2.02 trillion on debt servicing in the first six months of 2021 (January-June), Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, has said.
The amount represents 90.6 per cent of the retained revenue of N2.23 trillion for the period.
Ahmed said the FG’s retained revenue amounted to 67.3 per cent of the target.
She stated this on Monday, in Abuja, during the 2022- 2024 2022-2024 medium-term expenditure framework/ fiscal strategy paper (MTEF/FSP) committee interactive session.
Last year, out of total revenue of N3.42 trillion, the FG spent N3.34 trillion on debt servicing – implying that for every N100 earned as revenue, N97 was spent on debt servicing.
Given the breakdown, the minister said oil revenue was N492.44 billion, representing 49 per cent performance, while the non-oil revenue totalled N778.18 trillion at 104.5 percent performance, according to the News Agency of Nigeria.
According to her, companies income tax (CIT) and value-added tax (VAT) collections are ahead of the budget targets with N397.02 billion and N129 billion.
This, she added, represented 116.5 per cent and 108.2 per cent targets for the period.
Ahmed said that Customs collection was N234.02 billion at 92.1 percent of target, adding that other revenues amounted to N922.09 billion — out of which independent revenue was N558.13 billion.
On the expenditure performance, Ahmed said N5.81 trillion, representing 92.4 per cent of the budget had been spent, adding that this excludes GOEs and project-tied debt expenditure.
“Of the expenditure, N2.02 trillion was for debt servicing, which is 35 percent of the Federal Government expenditures and N1.795 trillion for personnel cost,” Zainab said.
“This is including pension at 30.9 percent of Federal Government revenue.”
She noted that as of June, N1.3 trillion, which represented 84.7 per cent, had been released for capital expenditure.
The finance minister said that the country faced serious economic challenges in 2020, with the microeconomic environment significantly disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
She said the economy sustained a tepid recovery in the first quarter of 2021.
Business
SEC announces stricter measures to protect investors
SEC announces stricter measures to protect investors
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting investors in Nigeria’s capital market by cracking down on fraudulent activities.
According to the Director-General of SEC, Dr. Emomotimi Agama, operators engaging in unscrupulous practices will face strict penalties as the Commission prioritizes safeguarding investor interests.
“So, clearly for us, it is getting people to understand that there is no hiding place anymore for anybody that has the intention to defraud Nigerians and to defraud anybody that is investing in this market,” Dr. Agama stated, emphasizing the Commission’s zero-tolerance policy.
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Dr. Agama highlighted that the Investments and Securities Act (ISA) 2007 serves as the framework for securities regulation in Nigeria, ensuring that market operators adhere to high ethical standards.
He emphasized the importance of the “fit and proper person’s test,” which requires operators to meet specific regulatory criteria to maintain their licenses.
“This is because the very ethics of regulating or registering a securities market operator is in the principle of the fit and proper person’s test,” he explained.
“What you have been seeing most recently by the revocation of licenses, the suspension of operators and our follow-up to operators that are not registered with the SEC is only a tip of the iceberg as to what we intend to do this year.”
Dr. Agama assured stakeholders that the SEC will leverage its regulatory powers under Nigerian law to deter fraudulent activities, noting, “We believe strongly that a protected investor is a powerful investor.”
SEC announces stricter measures to protect investors
Business
Bitcoin rises above $86,000 as crypto market gains momentum
Bitcoin rises above $86,000 as crypto market gains momentum
Bitcoin and other leading cryptocurrencies extended their gains on Monday, buoyed by positive investor sentiment despite concerns over upcoming U.S. tariffs and key economic data releases later this week.
As of 7am WAT, Bitcoin rose 3.2% to $86,590, while Ethereum gained 2.3%, trading at $2,047.
The global cryptocurrency market capitalization increased by 2.94% in the past 24 hours, reaching $2.84 trillion.
Other notable performers included XRP, Cardano, and Dogecoin, which posted gains of 3%, 2%, and 3.8%, respectively. Chainlink, Avalanche, Hedera, and Stellar recorded growth ranging from 3% to 10%.
“Bitcoin is holding above $86,000, registering a 3% gain today. The key resistance level to watch is $86,700; a breakout could pave the way for $90,000,” said Vikram Subburaj, CEO of Giottus.
Bitcoin’s market capitalization surged to $1.727 trillion, with dominance rising to 60.73%. Its 24-hour trading volume soared by 93% to $18.2 billion, while stablecoin transactions accounted for 94.74% of total crypto trading, reaching $57.58 billion, according to CoinMarketCap.
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Solana Outperforms Peers Amid Positive Market Sentiment
Solana (SOL) emerged as a standout performer, surging over 7% in the past 24 hours to trade above $139.
The rally was fueled by reports suggesting that President Trump’s April 2 tariffs may be more targeted than initially feared, easing market concerns.
Weekend rumors indicated that the tariffs might include country exemptions and non-cumulative charges on metals, contributing to improved sentiment across global markets.
The Federal Reserve’s projections for two rate cuts this year further supported risk assets, with the central bank describing potential tariff-induced inflation as “transitory.”
BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes expressed optimism about Bitcoin’s trajectory, stating, “The Fed’s policy orientation could help Bitcoin achieve $110k before it retests $76.5k.”
Solana’s momentum aligns with unprecedented acceptance rates. DeFiLlama reported that Solana’s total value locked (TVL) reached 54.87 million SOL, its highest level since June 2022. Ali Charts revealed that a record 11.09 million addresses now hold SOL, underscoring growing adoption.
Bitcoin rises above $86,000 as crypto market gains momentum
Railway
Lagos Govt to redesign Oshodi motor park for rail integration
Lagos Govt to redesign Oshodi motor park for rail integration
The Lagos State Government has announced plans to redesign the Oshodi Transport Interchange (OTI) to integrate the facility with the Red Line and Blue Line rail systems, advancing its Rail Mass Transit project.
This initiative aims to deliver seamless connectivity between the two key rail networks and enhance commuters’ experience in Lagos.
The disclosure was conveyed via a statement shared on the official X (formerly Twitter) account of the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation on Saturday, highlighting the need to optimize the design and operations of the OTI to boost efficiency and align with global standards.
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To kickstart the process, the Honourable Commissioner for Transportation, Seun Osiyemi, held a meeting with stakeholders to assess the current state of the interchange and outline strategies for its improvement.
“The Ministry of Transportation sought to address the ongoing developments and challenges affecting the Oshodi Transport Interchange (OTI) in preparedness for the integration of the Rail Mass transit system; Red Line rail project connecting the Blue Line.
“The Ministry recognized that a review of the OTI’s design and operations is essential for its optimization which led to the Honourable Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi meeting with relevant Stakeholders to discuss the current state of the OTI and identify viable solutions that would enhance its operational efficiency in alignment with global standards and Standard Operating Procedures,” the statement read in part.
Lagos Govt to redesign Oshodi motor park for rail integration
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