Business

Experts Blame Non-Passage Of Budget For Liquidity Crisis

Published

9 years ago

March 29, 2017

Some financial market operators on Monday called on the National Assembly to fast track the passage of the 2017 Budget to boost liquidity in the economy and ensure its effective implementation.
They told newsmen in Lagos, Monday, that budget approval was necessary to stimulate the economy through government spending.
Head Research, SCM Capital Ltd., Mr Sewa Wusu, called for the quick passage of the budget to stimulate economic activities, noting that non-passage of the budget was affecting various sectors of the economy.
Wusu said that the late passage would affect the budget implementation, especially the capital budget.
He said that the budget approval should be hastened for government to hit the ground with implementation as the highest spender in the country.
Wusu, however, attributed the zigzag performance at the stock market to low confidence of both local and foreign investors.
He said that investors were still weary of market outlook due to macro economic development.
Wusu attributed foreign investors’ lack of confidence in the market to foreign exchange issues, noting that they were yet to be convinced of the Forex supply side in spite of the apex bank’s regular intervention.
He said that investment in the market, with the turn of events, was for investors with high risk appetite.
A Professor of Economics, Sheriffadeen Tella of the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, said that budget approval delay would affect the multiplier effects on sectoral expansion and employment generation.
Tella said that the stock market had failed to respond to some impressive results declared so far.
According to him, this is because people have low income which is largely devoted to meeting basic needs than investment in the face of rising prices.
He added that Nigerians were generally risk averse and were yet to overcome the negative effects of loss of fund in the protracted economic crisis of the recent past.
Reports say that a turnover of 1.31 billion shares worth N10.32 billion were exchanged by investors in 13,042 deals last week against 1.03 billion shares valued at N7.98 billion exchanged hands in 13,441 deals in the preceding week.
The Financial Services industry, when measured in volume terms, led the activity chart with 1.14 billion shares worth N6.03 billion traded in 7,518 deals.
It contributed 87.01 per cent and 58.39 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value.
The Consumer Goods sector followed with 71.21 million shares, valued at N2.31 billion transacted in 2,261 deals.
The third place was occupied by Services Industry, with a turnover of 29.39 million shares worth N24.59 million in 258 deals.
The NSE All-Share Index and market captialisation depreciated by 0.77 per cent and 0.80 per cent to close the week at 25,454.93 and N8.807 trillion respectively against 25,653.16 and N8.878 trillion achieved in the previous week.
Lafarge Africa led the gainers’ table for the week in percentage terms, improving by 13.92 per cent or N5.01 to close at N41.01 per share.
Fidson Healthcare followed with a gain of 13.48 per cent or 12k to close at N1.01, while Livestock Feeds increased by 10.94 per cent or 7k to close at 71 per share.
On the other hand, Guinness led the losers’ chart in percentage terms, dropping by 9.77 per cent or N6.50 to close at N60 per share.
Seplat trailed with a loss of 9.73 per cent or N38.72 to close at N359.28, while Diamond Bank shed 8.51 per cent or 8k to close at 86 per share.

Business

Customs Seek Support To Curb Smuggling In Ogun

Published

2 days ago

February 13, 2026

The Tide

The Nigeria Customs Service(NCS), Ogun 1 Area Command, has solicited support in fighting smuggling and other economic crimes at the Nations border.

The Area Comptroller, Olukayode Afeni made the appeal in an interview with Newsmen in Idiroko, Ogun.

The comptroller stressed the need for the public to provide timely and reliable information to the Service, saying noting that fighting smuggling is a collective effort

“I urge the general public to join hands with NCS by providing timely and credible information that would help toward suppressing smuggling and other economic crimes.”

“Together, we can build a prosperous nation where compliance is the norm, and criminality has no place,” he said.

Afeni reiterated the command’s commitment to combat smuggling, and facilitating legitimate trade, as well as generate revenue for national development.

Chinedu Wosu

Business

IFAD: Nigeria Leads Global Push For Youth, Women Investment In Agriculture

Published

3 days ago

February 13, 2026

The Tide

The 49th Session of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Governing Council has concluded in Rome, with Nigeria taking a prominent leadership role in advancing global agricultural development priorities, particularly strategic investment in youth and women.

The biennial meeting, themed “From Farm to Market: Investing in Young Entrepreneurs,” underscored the growing recognition of young people as critical drivers of job creation, innovation, and inclusive economic growth across global food systems.

The session opened with the election of Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, as Chairperson of the IFAD Governing Council.

Having previously served as Vice Chair, his emergence as Chairperson reflects the strong confidence reposed in Nigeria by Member States, recognising the country’s constructive engagement and leadership in promoting global food security.

In his acceptance remarks, Senator Kyari expressed deep appreciation to Member States for the trust placed in him, pledging to serve with humility, diligence, and a strong commitment to improving the livelihoods of rural women and men across the world.

Addressing delegates during the session, the Chairperson emphasised that prioritising youth and women in agriculture is key to unlocking economic opportunities, accelerating innovation, and driving inclusive growth.

He noted that such investments would ultimately strengthen global food systems while helping to reduce hunger and poverty.

Senator Kyari also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for placing food security at the centre of Nigeria’s national priorities.

He noted that Nigeria’s leadership role at IFAD aligns with the President’s directive to boost agricultural productivity, expand economic opportunities for youth and women, and build resilient food systems capable of withstanding climate and market shocks.

The Minister further praised the IFAD Nigeria Country Office, led by Country Director Ms Dede Ekoue, for translating global development commitments into measurable outcomes for rural communities.

He highlighted the office’s role in strengthening agricultural value chains, empowering youth and women, and improving resilience among smallholder farmers nationwide.

Business

Expert Tasks FG On Food Imports To Protect Farmers

Published

3 days ago

February 13, 2026

The Tide

The Federal Government has been urged to balance consumer protection with farmers’ sustainability by ensuring timely food imports, input subsidies expansion and price stabilisation mechanisms to secure investments across the agricultural value chain.

An agriculture expert, Dr Fatai Afolabi, gave the advice at a forum organised by the Plantation Owners’ Forum of Nigeria (POFON), in collaboration with the Oil Palm and Other Oil Seeds Value Chain, themed ‘Current Government Food Strategy, the Concomitant Effects and Implications for Food Security in Nigeria’, and held in Lagos, Wednesday.

Afolabi cautioned that the recent food import policies, while easing consumer prices, could undermine local farmers and long-term food security if not carefully managed.

He noted that Nigeria’s food system was navigating an exceptionally difficult period, marked by inflationary pressures, climate variability, insecurity in major food-producing regions, and rising energy and logistics costs.

He said the Federal Government’s decision to temporarily relax restrictions on selected food imports was understandable, noting that the market had responded swiftly with a reduction in prices of major staples.

However, the convener observed that while the policy had brought much-needed relief to consumers, it posed significant challenges for local farmers and agriculture value chain investors.

“While output prices have fallen, the cost of producing food in Nigeria remains stubbornly high.

“Farmers continue to contend with expensive fertilisers, rising transport costs, costly improved seeds and agrochemicals, limited access to affordable credit, poor electricity supply, weak road infrastructure, and inadequate storage and processing facilities, which result in significant post-harvest losses.

“This situation, where farmers sell produce at declining prices while production costs remain elevated, has created widespread distress across agricultural ecosystems,” he said.

Afolabi said the effects were being felt across all segments of agriculture, with rice farmers among the hardest hit.

He said reports from producing states indicated that about 3,500 rice farmers were considering exiting rice cultivation after incurring estimated losses of over N93 billion.

He added that cassava farmers were selling produce at prices that barely covered harvesting costs, leaving them unable to recover their investments.

According to him, vegetable and edible oil producers are also under pressure as imported vegetable oil brands reduce demand for locally processed alternatives.

He added that cocoa farmers continue to battle price volatility in international markets amid rising domestic labour and maintenance costs.

Afolabi noted that tree crops such as oil palm and cocoa, which require long gestation periods, were particularly vulnerable to sudden market disruptions that undermine investor confidence and discourage new investment.

He said the effects extended downstream to agro-processing and value addition, with soybean farmers supplying vegetable oil processors experiencing reduced demand and lower prices.

He said the development threatened not only farm incomes but also rural employment and agro-industrial growth, raising concerns about national food security.

According to him, sustained losses could force farmers out of production, increasing Nigeria’s dependence on food imports and exposing the country to global supply shocks, foreign exchange pressures and long-term vulnerabilities.

Afolabi cited India and the Netherlands as countries offering useful lessons in balancing consumer protection with farmer sustainability.

He said India deploys food imports strategically during shortages, while complementing them with strong domestic support systems.

He added that the Netherlands, despite being one of the world’s leading agricultural exporters, supports farmers through input subsidies, tax incentives, affordable energy, strong cooperatives, and close integration with research and extension services.

He said agricultural students in both countries also benefit from subsidised tuition, transportation and meals, as well as grants and start-up support for farm enterprises.

“This approach ensures generational continuity and innovation in the agricultural sector,” he said.

Afolabi said Nigeria’s current food import policy could play a stabilising role if complemented by deliberate measures to protect local producers.

He recommended carefully timed imports to avoid peak harvest periods, strengthened price stabilisation mechanisms, aggressive subsidies for critical farm inputs, and support for agro-processors to remain competitive.

He also called for clear communication of policy intentions to reassure farmers that import measures were strategic and temporary.

“Food imports should function as a strategic shock absorber rather than a permanent market feature.

“Government should develop and publish a national crop production and harvest calendar for major staples and align import decisions with documented supply gaps.

“Affordable food and profitable farming are not mutually exclusive goals. With thoughtful coordination and sustained support for farmers, Nigeria can achieve both,” he said.