Business
Nigeria’s debt of N31tn unsustainable, says LCCI
- Backs increase in electricity tariff, fuel price
- Seeks more mass transit buses, rail system
- Urges reopening of borders
The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry has expressed worry about the nation’s state of economy, particularly the rising debt profile, currently put at N31tn, without corresponding output growth and economic development.
According to the LCCI, the growing level of the country’s debt is fast becoming unsustainable in the light of dwindling oil prices and production.
President of the LCCI, Toki Mabogunje, gave this position at a press conference on the state of the economy on Tuesday in Lagos.
She said the high level of debt servicing had continued to hinder robust investment in hard and soft infrastructure, described as key to stimulating productivity and improving living standards.
She said, “We note the increase in public debt stock was fueled by fresh domestic and external borrowing required to plug the wider fiscal deficit in the revised 2020 budget, given the impact of the pandemic on oil and non-oil sources of revenue.
“We also note the impact of recent exchange rate depreciation on the country’s level of external indebtedness.
“At the peak of the pandemic in the second quarter, the Federal Government received financial support worth $3.4 billion and $288.5 million from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and African Development Bank (AfDB) respectively, while negotiations are also on-going for a cumulative $1.8 billion credit support from the World Bank, African Development Bank (second tranche) and Islamic Development Bank.
“Adding this to prospective domestic issuances could possibly push the country’s public debt stock to around N34 trillion by year-end, equivalent to 23 per cent of the GDP.”
On the nation’s accelerated inflation rate, Mabogunje said the persistent pressure on consumer prices stemmed largely from the sustained uptrend in food inflation.
She said the recent incidents of flooding in key food-producing states in the North had wiped off food and cash crops on a large scale and disrupted output projections in agriculture.
Mabogunje said that the situation, if not urgently addressed, would escalate the pressure on food prices, thereby putting the country on the verge of a food crisis.
She noted, “According to local media reports, over two million tons of rice were lost to flood; other crops such as sorghum, corn and millet were also affected.
“Rising inflation trajectory has serious implications for businesses regarding production cost, investment real return rate, and overall economic performance.
“Looking forward, the Chamber expects inflation to sustain its upward trajectory for the rest of the year.
“The Lagos Chamber calls on the fiscal and monetary authorities on the need to synergise to moderate domestic prices to a level conducive for sustainable and inclusive economic growth.
“The Federal Government might need to reopen the land borders to give succour to food prices in the light of lower domestic food supply amid huge demand for food.
“Similarly, both the federal and state governments also need to promptly address the issue of food wastage, majorly responsible for the food supply gap being experienced in the country.”
The LCCI president also advised policymakers on the formulation and implementation of policies to facilitate sustainability as business operators grapple with the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mabogunje said such policies must support businesses, protect jobs, preserve investment and foster economic competitiveness at both national and subnational levels.
She said the chamber endorsed the adoption of the cost-reflective tariff regime in the power sector.
The LCCI president said the new tariff would attract investment and improve power supply, even as she noted that safeguards were needed to protect consumers from exploitation.
She said, “If the economics of the investment is not right, investors will not inject capital into the sector. However, there should be safeguards to protect consumers from exploitation.
“There should comprehensive metering of consumers and there should be value for money. We believe that policy should be given a chance.”
The LCCI president said the Solar Home Initiative, aimed at expanding energy access to 25 million individuals through the provision of solar home systems or connection to a mini grid was a step in the right direction.
She said the initiative would stimulate growth and productivity in the country’s rural economy.
Mabogunje also commended government on the recent reforms implemented in the downstream segment of the oil sector.
She said the removal of petrol subsidy and the proposal by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation to give up majority stakes in the four local refineries were laudable.
Mabogunje, however, appealed for the provision of mass transit buses, development of rail system for intra city and intercity transportation, and the acceleration of the auto gas programme so that more vehicles could be powered by gas.
She said, “We believe these measures are steps in the right direction in rescuing the economy from deepening fiscal crisis.
“We note that the subsidy regime had for long constituted a huge burden on public finances, encouraged corruption, inefficiencies, deterred investment flows, and weakened the earnings performance of oil refining and marketing companies.
“We acknowledge the effect of the price hike on the vulnerable segments of the society. Accordingly, we request that palliatives be provided in form of mass transit buses among other initiatives to ease the burden on consumers.”
Mabogunje also called for the expeditious passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill to consolidate recent reforms in the sector.
On the various fiscal and monetary interventions by the government, Mabogunje said the schemes would help with fulfilling payroll obligations and protect the jobs within the SMEs sector.
She said, “The Lagos Chamber acknowledges the various interventions of the fiscal and monetary sides of authorities in mitigating the adverse impact of the pandemic on economic and business environment.
“The federal and state governments need to expeditiously redirect attention to these sectors, including aviation, hospitality, entertainment, and manufacturing.
“This has become necessary to protect jobs, preserve investments and provide the much-needed liquidity required to revive these sectors.”
The LCCI president said the chamber noted the weak performance of the economy at the sectoral level, particularly among key sectors with potential to drive economic diversification.
Mabogunje said the 6.1 per cent contraction of the Gross Domestic Product in the second quarter reflected the profound impact of the pandemic on the economy.
She said the Chamber anticipated a marginal improvement in the GDP growth performance by the third quarter.
She attributed the anticipated improvement to the declining trend in the rate of confirmed cases of COVID-19, relaxation of various containment measures and the increasing tempo of economic activities.
On foreign exchange, the LCCI President said inappropriate forex policies could discourage fresh capital inflows on foreign direct investment, portfolio investment, remittances, and non-oil export proceeds into the economy.
Mabogunje said this was evidenced by the sharp plunge in the level of capital imported into Nigeria from $5.9 billion in the first quarter to $1.2 billion in the second quarter, partly caused by the capital control policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
She said, “The Chamber notes the various policy measures taken by the Central Bank of Nigeria to conserve the country’s foreign exchange resources in the light of weakening dollar inflows precipitated by the global pandemic.
“While the Lagos Chamber appreciates the efforts of the apex bank in preserving the scarce foreign exchange resources at a time the economy is confronted with the twin challenge of lower oil price and production, we believe demand management strategies alone are not sustainable solutions to the recurring foreign exchange crises.”
Auto
26th Abuja Motor Fair: NADDC, BKG Set November 10 Date for Auto Industry Show
26th Abuja Motor Fair: NADDC, BGK Set November 10 Date for Auto Industry Showcase
The National Automotive Design and Development Council and BKG Exhibitions Ltd have unveiled plans for the 26th Abuja International Motor Fair, scheduled to hold from November 10 to 13, 2026, at Eagle Square, Abuja.
The four-day event is expected to bring together major players across the automotive value chain, such as vehicle manufacturers and assemblers, component producers, financial institutions, technology firms, transport operators, logistics companies, development partners, investors and government agencies.
A three-day conference will also feature prominently at the fair, with the theme, “Driving Nigeria’s Automotive Transformation: Policy, Production, and Prosperity.”
A statement on Friday by BKG Exhibitions said the conference would examine key issues shaping the development of Nigeria’s automotive industry, with speakers drawn from various sectors of the industry and related fields.
Chairman of the Organising Committee and Managing Director of BKG Exhibitions, Mr Ifeanyi Agwu, said the conference would feature a keynote address by the Director-General of NADDC, Otunba Joseph Osanipin, alongside presentations and speeches by leading stakeholders in the automotive and transport sectors.
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According to him, the fair will provide participants with opportunities to engage industry leaders, investors, government officials and business executives while exploring emerging vehicles, technologies, products and investment opportunities.
Other highlights of the event are the Nigeria Automotive Excellence Awards Night, Abuja Automotive Road Show, Ultimate Test-Drive experience, exotic automobile displays and the Automotive and Future Mobility Arena.
Visitors will also have access to professional advice, technical papers and a showcase of some of Abuja’s finest cuisine.
The Abuja International Motor Fair has, over the years, evolved into one of Nigeria’s major automotive exhibitions and platforms for industry and policy dialogue.
The organisers said this year’s edition would further strengthen the platform’s role in promoting investment, innovation, local production and sustainable growth across Nigeria’s automotive sector.
26th Abuja Motor Fair: NADDC, BGK Set November 10 Date for Auto Industry Showcase
Auto
Replace Fuel Subsidy With Vehicle Credit to Drive Mobility, Jobs,LCCI, Ilekuba tell FG
Replace Fuel Subsidy With Vehicle Credit to Drive Mobility, Jobs,LCCI, Ilekuba tell FG
Nigeria’s automotive stakeholders have called for an urgent shift from fuel subsidy to affordable vehicle financing, saying the new model could make vehicle ownership accessible to more Nigerians while driving local production, creating jobs and reducing dependence on imported automobiles.
The call was made on Thursday at the LCCI/National Automotive Design and Development Council Automobile Symposium, themed, “From Subsidy to Credit: Can Vehicle Financing Replace Fuel Subsidy as Nigeria’s Mobility Equalizer?”
Chairman of the LCCI Auto and Allied Sector Group, Dr Femi Eguaikhide, said affordable vehicle credit could restore access to mobility, improve productivity and create a stronger market for Nigeria’s automotive industry.
He said fuel subsidy had for decades effectively functioned as Nigeria’s mobility policy by helping to keep transportation relatively affordable for millions of Nigerians, including commercial drivers, teachers and small-business operators.
However, following its removal in May 2023, Eguaikhide said mobility costs had risen sharply, resulting in higher transport fares and increased prices of goods and services, with knock-on effects on productivity.
“Subsidy made fuel cheap, but cars remained expensive. So only the rich owned productive assets,” he said, arguing that vehicle credit could enable more Nigerians to acquire income-generating vehicles and repay loans from the proceeds.
Eguaikhide called for affordable, preferably single-digit interest rates and longer-tenor lease-to-own schemes for commercial operators using buses, tricycles and motorcycles.
“Can we create a ₦50,000/month plan for a keke driver?” he asked, urging financial institutions to develop financing products around borrowers’ earning capacity rather than conventional lending models.
He also advocated the use of vehicle telematics, tracking systems and cash-flow data to develop “mobility credit scores” that could help lenders assess the repayment capacity of commercial transport operators.
But Eguaikhide warned that vehicle financing must not become a fresh channel for importing used vehicles.
“If we use credit to import more Tokunbo, we’ve solved nothing,” he said, advocating financing for CNG conversions, locally assembled electric and hybrid vehicles, as well as mass-transit buses.
He summed up the proposed policy shift: “Subsidy gave us consumption. Credit can give us production.”
In a special address, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Cedric Masters Group, Chief (Sir) Anselm Ilekuba, also canvassed a fundamental shift towards vehicle financing, stressing that such a policy must simultaneously promote Nigeria’s automotive industrialisation.
Ilekuba, who was represented at the event by his Chief Finance Officer and Head of Accounts and Strategy, Christabel Mmesoma Ilekuba, decried the impact of high financing costs, short repayment periods and pressure on household incomes on vehicle ownership, despite strong demand for automobiles.
He urged the Federal Government to seriously consider the proposed National Automotive Bank being championed by NADDC, describing it as a specialised financing institution that could support consumers, vehicle assemblers and component manufacturers.
Ilekuba proposed longer-tenor financing for qualifying locally assembled vehicles, alongside industrial credit for manufacturers and funding for machinery, technology, certification and capacity expansion by component producers.
He also called for stronger localisation of automotive components, citing the proposed National Automotive Components Parts Gateway being developed by ALCMAN with Chinese partners.
According to him, the Automotive Bank and Components Gateway could create a cycle in which increased vehicle purchases stimulate local assembly, boost demand for locally produced components, expand factories and generate jobs, while reducing Nigeria’s exposure to foreign-exchange pressures.
Ilekuba said the success of vehicle financing should therefore not be measured merely by the number of loans disbursed, but also by growth in local vehicle assembly, component production, factory expansion, employment and foreign exchange conserved or earned.
“The old subsidy helped Nigerians consume mobility. The new approach should help Nigerians own mobility—and help Nigeria produce it,” he said.
Auto
Jetour Set to Storm Abuja Show with Rugged Luxury T2
Jetour Set to Storm Abuja Show with Rugged Luxury T2
Abuja is set for a taste of rugged luxury as Jetour Nigeria puts its adventure-ready T2 SUV in the spotlight at the Jetour Experience Abuja from September 22 to 24, 2026, giving motorists in the Federal Capital Territory and neighbouring states an opportunity to test its blend of off-road capability, premium comfort and advanced technology.
The three-day showcase at Maha Event Centre, Area 8, Garki, will feature test drives, live demonstrations and direct interaction with Jetour product specialists, offering prospective buyers a closer look at the T2 and other models in the automaker’s growing Nigerian line-up.
Positioned as a premium SUV combining off-road capability with comfort and advanced technology, the Jetour T2 is designed for motorists seeking a vehicle capable of handling both city driving and challenging terrain.
Jetour Nigeria is distributing the T2 and other models via its seven accredited dealers — Elizade Nigeria Limited, New Era AutoVehicle Services Limited, Germaine Auto Centre, Kojo Motors, Mandilas Autos, R.T. Briscoe Motors and Tab Autos Limited.
The T 2 SUV is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine producing 254 horsepower and 390 Nm of torque. The engine is paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and BorgWarner sixth-generation intelligent four-wheel-drive system.
It also features five driving modes — Eco, Sport, Mud, Rock and X Smart — designed to provide improved adaptability across different road and terrain conditions.
Measuring 4,758mm in length, 2,006mm in width and 1,880mm in height, the SUV offers 220mm ground clearance and a 70-litre fuel tank, giving it the capability for extended journeys and off-road adventures.
Inside the cabin, the T2 combines rugged styling with modern comfort, featuring ergonomic seating and a 15.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and intelligent voice control.
Its safety and driver-assistance features include a 360-degree panoramic camera, rear parking sensors, Lane Departure Warning, Blind Spot Detection, Anti-lock Braking System and Emergency Brake Assist.
The SUV also comes with off-road crawl control as well as push-button and remote-start functions.
The Abuja experience follows Jetour Nigeria’s recent showcase in Lagos as the automaker continues to expand its presence and customer reach across the country.
With its combination of performance, technology, safety and luxury, the Jetour T2 is expected to attract motorists seeking an SUV capable of combining everyday urban mobility with adventure and off-road driving.
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