April 2026 – Page 137

Presidency Opts for N10bn Solar

17.04.2026

Nigeria’s electricity sector is once again under intense scrutiny as the masses question the Federal Government’s ability to deliver on its promise of a stable power supply to all Nigerians within a single four-year term, especially as the presidency dumped the national grid for a N10bn solar grid, reports DARE OLAWIN President Bola Tinubu did...

FMDQ lists N10bn Veritasi Homes bond

17.04.2026

FMDQ Securities Exchange Limited has approved the listing of Veritasi Homes & Properties Plc’s N10.00bn three-year, 20.00 per cent Series 1 Fixed Rate Bond under its N30.00bn bond issuance programme. According to an official statement released on Thursday, this milestone highlights the Exchange’s role in facilitating efficient capital formation within Nigeria’s fixed-income market. FMDQ described...

IMF Cautions Nigeria on Public Debt as Borrowing Climbs

17.04.2026

The International Monetary Fund has declined to endorse a preference for either external or domestic borrowing for Nigeria, stressing that the country’s rising debt profile requires a stronger focus on sustainability and repayment capacity. Speaking at a media briefing on the Regional Economic Outlook for Sub-Saharan Africa, Abebe Aemro Selassie, Director of the IMF’s African...

FirstBank & Ekiti Launch Fund to Support 60 Startups

17.04.2026

FirstBank of Nigeria has partnered with the Ekiti State Government to launch an Innovation Enterprise Support Fund, aimed at financing startups and accelerating technology-driven business growth within the state. The initiative targets 60 startups across various stages of development, providing funding, mentorship, and market access to strengthen Ekiti’s emerging innovation ecosystem. Under the programme structure,...

Afreximbank Profit Rises to $1.15bn as Assets Hit N56.7trn

17.04.2026

The African Export-Import Bank has reported a stellar financial performance for the 2025 fiscal year, characterised by significant bottom-line growth and a massive expansion of its balance sheet to support trade across the continent. The bank’s net profit climbed to $1.15bn (approximately N1.5tn), representing an 18 per cent increase over the $973.5m recorded in the...

NGX market cap surges by N1.66tn amid bullish trading

17.04.2026

The Nigerian equities market sustained its bullish momentum as investors continued to accumulate fundamentally strong stocks, pushing key performance indicators higher at the close of trading. The market capitalisation opened the session at N134.772tn and advanced to N136.435tn, reflecting strong buying interest across several counters. Similarly, the All-Share Index climbed from 209,317.41 points at the...

Ecobank Announces Adire Lagos Experience 5.0 for 2026

17.04.2026

Ecobank Nigeria, a subsidiary of the leading Pan-African financial services group, Ecobank Group, has announced the fifth edition of the Adire Lagos Experience, its flagship cultural and creative industry showcase. According to a statement from the bank, the 2026 edition is themed ‘Threads Across Borders’, celebrating the depth and global resonance of Adire as a...

NSC Consults Stakeholders on Proposed Shipping Tariff Hike

17.04.2026

The Nigerian Shippers’ Council on Tuesday met with maritime stakeholders, including shipping companies, freight forwarders, importers and exporters, insisting on comprehensive stakeholder engagement before the implementation of the proposed tariff hike. Speaking in Apapa during a one-day stakeholders’ forum on the planned increment, the Executive Secretary of the NSC, Dr Pius Akutah, announced that the...

UPDC REIT Proposes 33 Kobo Final Dividend for FY 2025

17.04.2026

The UPDC Real Estate Investment Trust has proposed a final distribution of N0.33k per unit for the financial year ended 31 December 2025, in a corporate action announcement released to the Nigerian Exchange on Wednesday, The announcement signals a consistent return for investors in the real estate sector, despite the broader economic climate. The payout...

Nigeria launches Africa’s first Blue Economy TV channel

17.04.2026

Blue Economy Television, a channel dedicated to advancing Nigeria’s maritime and blue economy sector, has officially launched in Lagos. According to a statement on Monday, the development heralds a new era of specialised broadcasting as the first of its kind in Africa, with a focus on marine resources, policy discussions, shipping, coastal tourism, and other...