Business
Paying for oil exports, others in naira will strengthen our currency, says Dogara

Paying for oil exports, others in naira will strengthen our currency, says Dogara
Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has offered a number of suggestions on how to immediately strengthen the nation’s currency, the naira.
One of the measures, he said, was for the Federal Government to mandate those buying Nigeria’s crude oil to pay in naira and not United States dollar.
Similarly, he said all payments for exports should be made in the local currency, which he noted would reduce the desperation for the USD and continued fall in the naira’s value.
Dogara also asked the Federal Government to unlock “idle dollars” in private vaults to crash the foreign exchange (FX) rate.
Dogara spoke on Wednesday at the special edition of The Platform, an event powered by The Covenant Nation to facilitate national development.
Themed, ‘Democracy and the Free Market Economy’, the programme was held to mark Nigeria’s 25 years of unbroken democracy.
The naira had appreciated marginally to N1,480/$ at the parallel section of the FX market on June 10 — but fell to N1,483 at the official window on the same trading day.
Dogara said the naira was grossly undervalued, attributing this to an insatiable demand for dollars.
The former lawmaker said the forex issue is the primary problem currently affecting Nigeria’s economy.
He said both legitimate and shady transactions were being conducted in dollars, stressing that unless the appetite for dollars was curbed, the demand would always exceed the supply.
He said, “So many reasons have been adduced by pundits to be responsible for FX rate instability in Nigeria.
“I believe the naira is grossly undervalued. This is because the most productive nations are not necessarily the nations with the strongest currencies.
“I think the only infliction point we witnessed was due to the advent of the BVN, which crippled the ability of corrupt officials and other shady characters to keep their loot in anonymous bank accounts.
“Almost all ill-gotten money is stashed in USD in private vaults as the naira is too bulky to warehouse.
“Therefore, I am of the firm belief that our insatiable appetite for USD is what is killing the naira.
“Believe it or not, nearly all big-ticket deals and transactions, both legitimate and shady, are closed in USD in Nigeria.
“Just find out, there is no hefty bribe that is not paid for in USD. Some schools in Nigeria charge fees in foreign currencies, and even our most valued export is paid for in USD.
“So, to me, wittingly or unwittingly, the USD is our currency of choice and as long as we don’t kill our appetite for USD, the demand for USD will always outstrip its supplies.
“The challenge before the government is how to unlock and make the USD locked up in private vaults in Nigeria begin to chase the naira. That to me is the commonsensical solution.
“I believe we have enough dollars in this country that we can unlock to make our economy work and to crash the FX rate.”
Dogara urged the government to mandate the use of the naira for the payment of all Nigerian exports, including crude oil, to strengthen the local currency.
“To achieve this, the government must demand that all Nigerian exports, including crude oil exports, be paid for in naira, just as we don’t pay for any import into Nigeria from any country in naira. It is not too much to demand that,” he said.
Auto
Carloha lifts Lifemate’s 19th anniversary promo with Tiggo 8 Pro grand prize

Carloha lifts Lifemate’s 19th anniversary promo with Tiggo 8 Pro grand prize
Carloha Nigeria, the official franchise holder and assembler of Chery vehicles in the country, has partnered with Lifemate Furniture to celebrate the retailer’s 19th anniversary with a month-long promotional campaign.
Running from June 1 to June 30, 2025, the celebration features unbeatable deals, family-friendly activities, and a chance to win a brand-new Tiggo 8 Pro SUV.
The anniversary promo is Lifemate’s biggest yet, offering customers massive discounts across its furniture collections, free gifts with select purchases, and fun in-store games to entertain families throughout the month. A statement y Carloha says every shopper who makes a purchase during the promo period will receive a raffle ticket for daily prizes—and a chance to win the grand prize: the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro.
The grand raffle draw will take place during Lifemate’s Grand Finale event on June 28, 2025, where one lucky customer will drive away in the premium SUV, courtesy of Carloha Nigeria.
Speaking on the partnership, General Manager at Carloha Nigeria, Mr. Taiwo Akinpelu, highlighted the brand’s mission to deliver modern mobility solutions to Nigerian consumers.
“This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to enhancing lifestyles, making premium experiences more accessible for Nigerian families,” he said.
Carloha’s involvement extends beyond vehicle delivery. The Tiggo 8 Pro comes with the Carloha Care 6-6-7 aftersales package—offering six years of warranty, six years of free scheduled maintenance, and a seven-day repair promise with a courtesy vehicle if repairs take longer.
Designed for peace of mind, Carloha Care ensures every Chery owner enjoys long-term value and convenience.
This collaboration marks a celebration not only of Lifemate’s success but also of the synergy between home and mobility solutions.
As excitement builds toward the grand finale, customers have a rare chance to enjoy premium furniture deals and drive home in luxury.
Auto
Abuja Motor Fair set for 25th edition, govs, investors meetings, others lined up

Abuja Motor Fair set for 25th edition, govs, investors meetings, others lined up
A bumper edition of the annual Abuja Motor Fair is in the offing as the event enters its 25th edition this year.
Managing Director of BKG Exhibitions, Mr. Ifeanyichukwu Agwu, announced on Monday that the highly anticipated 25th edition of the fair would be held from November 24 to 28, 2025, in Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory.
Agwu at a press briefing on Monday described the upcoming edition as a landmark celebration, not only marking a quarter-century of consistent exhibitions but also signalling a renewed commitment to leveraging the automotive industry for national economic growth.
“We’ve been working on this event for the past two months,” Agwu stated.
“This 25th edition will be bigger, more inclusive, and more strategically aligned with national development goals.
“We’re planning a massive media campaign and stakeholders engagement across the country.”
BKG is aiming to use this platform to connect auto manufacturers, investors, government stakeholders, and the public in more meaningful ways than ever.
As part of this, the organizers plan to visit key stakeholders with journalists before the event kicks off, generating broader awareness and deeper engagement.
A major feature of the fair this year will be state-level participation, with BKG targeting all 36 state governments to showcase their transport and mobility initiatives.
This, the BKG boss said, would provide a great opportunity for state governments that have invested in transport terminals to promote it and for those intending to do so.
By providing a platform for state governments and auto companies to explore investment partnerships, the event is expected to foster practical solutions to Nigeria’s transportation and food distribution challenges.
Agwu emphasized that effective road transport systems could play a significant role in curbing inflation, lowering food prices, and reducing the cost of living.
“We are creating an interface between policymakers, investors, and the transport industry. This is our contribution to economic development,” he said.
The fair will also host strategic sessions for principal officers and members of the National Assembly, aimed at influencing policy formulation and legislative support for the automotive and transport sectors.
To further underscore the economic and policy importance of the fair, special days will be set aside for state governors to address the press and meet directly with investors and auto companies.
Agwu expressed confidence that the increased competition and collaboration within the industry would benefit consumers and propel the sector forward.
“We’ve seen what competition can do. We’re prepared to do more. Competition is good for customers,” he said.
As preparations intensify, all eyes are now on November, when Nigeria’s capital city will become the hub of transport innovation, investment opportunities, and forward-thinking dialogue on how to move the country ahead – quite literally.
Business
Oil prices drop 5% after Israel agrees to ceasefire

Oil prices drop 5% after Israel agrees to ceasefire
Oil prices sank more than five percent Tuesday after Israel said it had agreed to US President Donald Trump’s proposal for a bilateral ceasefire with Iran.
Shares in Asia were buoyant, as fears of an energy market shock eased following 12 days of war between Israel and its arch-foe. London, Paris and Frankfurt also rose at the open.
At around 0650 GMT on Tuesday, Brent was down 5.2 percent at $67.75 per barrel, while the main US crude contract WTI was 5.4 percent lower at $65.01 per barrel.
“A potential end to the conflict has been welcomed by market participants,” wrote Lee Hardman at MUFG, who noted that Brent “has now almost fully reversed all of the gains since the conflict started”.
“In the FX market a similar reversal is underway with the US dollar giving back recent gains. If Middle East risks now fade into the background as a market driver, it is more likely that the US dollar weakening trend will resume.”
Crude prices had briefly spiked Monday morning on the prospect that Iran could retaliate to a weekend US attack on its nuclear facilities by throttling oil transport through the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
But they then tumbled as much as seven percent when Iran said it had launched missiles at a major US base in Qatar, with oilfield assets unaffected.
– ‘War premium’ –
“Tehran played it cool. Their ‘retaliation’ hit a US base in Qatar — loud enough for headlines, quiet enough not to shake the oil market’s foundations,” said Stephen Innes at SPI Asset Management.
“And once that became clear, the war premium came crashing out of crude.”
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The Israeli government said in a statement Tuesday that the country had “achieved all the objectives” in its war with Iran, adding that it had removed “an immediate dual existential threat: nuclear and ballistic”.
“Israel will respond forcefully to any violation of the ceasefire,” the statement said.
Oil prices drop 5% after Israel agrees to ceasefire
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