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Nigeria’s economy growing, exchange rate stabilising, says FG

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Nigeria’s Minister of Finance, Mr Wale Edun

Nigeria’s economy growing, exchange rate stabilising, says FG

The Federal Government has given an update on the state of nation’s economy.

It says a lot of progress is being made with the economy just  as the exchange rate is stabilising.

Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, said this while briefing State House correspondents at the end of Council of State meeting on Tuesday.

Edun said the meeting presented an opportunity to update council members on the economy.

He said, “We gave them an update on how far progress has been made in terms of the macroeconomic policies being followed under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“And these policies are anchored on his eight priority areas and the results to date have been very encouraging.”

The minister also said, “We looked at the data, or we reported on the evidence and the data of this half year for which data was available, compared to the first quarter and the second quarter of 2023. And in broad terms, the economy is growing.

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“The balance of payments, in particular, the trade balance and a current account balance are in surplus.

“The exchange rate is stabilizing, and inflation, though high, uncomfortably high for the liking of Mr President and his team, it is slowing and it is set to fall.”

On his part, Chairman of the Governors’ Forum and Governor of Kwara State, Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq, said the Council also passed a vote of confidence in President Bola Tinubu.

He disclosed that after the Council of State meeting, the governors also met with the President in an executive session where another vote of confidence was passed.

He said, “Council members, especially those of the Nigerian governors’ forum, were satisfied with the presentation by the members of the Federal Executive Council, and after that meeting, there was an executive session between members of the Nigerian governor’s forum and Mr President, and frank and fruitful discussions were held between both parties.

“I’m glad to say we’re on the right track. And to say in the same vein, members of the NGF also, like the members of the Council of State, passed a vote of confidence in Mr President. We also wish him well and pray for God, guidance for him.”

Nigeria’s economy growing, exchange rate stabilising, says FG

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Naira exchanges N1,650/$ in parallel market

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Naira exchanges N1,650/$ in parallel market

Yesterday, the Naira appreciated N1,650 per dollar in the parallel market, compared to N1,655 on Monday.

Similarly, the Naira appreciated to N1,535 per dollar in the official foreign exchange market.

Data published by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, showed that the exchange rate for the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM) fell to N1,535 per dollar from N1,537 per dollar on Monday, indicating N2 appreciation for the naira.

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Consequently, the margin between the parallel market and NFEM rate narrowed to N115 per dollar from N118 per dollar on Monday.

 

Naira exchanges N1,650/$ in parallel market

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Exchange rate ends 2024 at N1,535/$1, marking a 40.9% depreciation

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Exchange rate ends 2024 at N1,535/$1, marking a 40.9% depreciation

The exchange rate between the naira and the dollar ended the year at N1,535/$1 representing a 40.9% depreciation for 2024.

The official exchange rate between the naira and dollar closed in 2023 at N907.11/$1 thus depreciating by 40.9% for the year which compares to a 49.1% devaluation at the end of 2023.

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Nigeria introduced several foreign exchange policies in 2024 as the central bank expanded on market-friendly forex policies to attract foreign investors.

Meanwhile, on the parallel market where the exchange rate is sold unofficially, the naira exchanged for N1,660 to the dollar when compared to N1,215/$ according to Nairametrics tracking records. This represents a 26.8% depreciation.

 

Exchange rate ends 2024 at N1,535/$1, marking a 40.9% depreciation

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Warri refinery: Marketers hopeful of further petrol price drop

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Warri refinery

Warri refinery: Marketers hopeful of further petrol price drop

There was excitement on Monday as the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC) commenced partial production.

This is coming after nearly a decade of dormancy as the 125,000 barrels per day refinery was confirmed to be working at 60 per cent capacity, according to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

The refinery, inactive since 2015 due to prolonged repairs, reportedly began refining activities last Saturday at its Area 1 plant, where crude oil was successfully pumped into the system.

This was coming about a month after the commencement of operations at the 60,000-barrel-per-day-old Port Harcourt Refinery.

The NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, announced the resumption of operation at the Warri Refinery during a tour of the facility on Monday.

Kyari was seen in a video posted by Channels TV addressing a tour team, which included the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Farouk Ahmed.

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Earlier, Kyari explained that the inspection aimed to show Nigerians the level of work completed so far.

He said though the repairs on the facility were not 100 per cent complete, operations had commenced.

He said, “We are taking you through our plant. This plant is running. Although it is not 100 per cent complete, we are still in the process. Many people think these things are not real. They think real things are not possible in this country. We want you to see that this is real.”

With the addition of Warri Refinery, Nigeria’s refining capacity has further increased with marketers anticipating a further reduction in price of premium motor spirit (PMS).

The 650,000-barrel Dangote Refinery has commenced production in addition to the Port Harcourt Refinery with a total capacity of 210,000 barrels per day (bpd) comprising 60,000 bpd for the old plant and 150,000 bpd for the new plant.

It’s good for business, prices may reduce – Marketers

Major Energy Marketers’ Association of Nigeria (MEMAN) and the Independent Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) welcomed the revival of the Warri refinery, saying it would deepen competition, diversify supply and ultimately resort to price reduction.

Executive Secretary of MEMAN, Clem Isong in a chat with our correspondent stated that the Warri Refinery is the shortest route to the North, describing its revival as good news.

“The market becomes more competitive and we are diversifying supply,” he said.

On whether it would lead to price reduction, he stated, “There are many factors that affect price, competition is always good and you can always get your product at the best price.”

National Public Relations Officer of IPMAN, Alhaji Olanrewaju Okanlawon in a chat with our correspondent said, “If there is excess supply, it will keep bringing down the price. We now run a free market and it is about demand and supply. It will continue bringing down the price. It will decongest Lagos.”

Energy expert, Dr. Ayodele Oni said the resumption of Warri Refinery would boost the local refining capacity in addition to enabling the country to sell to other neighbouring countries.

“We can refine more and even have some to sell. We now stop being hewers of wood and drawers of water. We add value to what we produce and can make/ do more with our base resources. This is very pleasant news,” he said.

Warri refinery: Marketers hopeful of further petrol price drop

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