Business
CBN Injects $15.3bn to Stabilise Naira
The Central Bank of Nigeria injected $15.3bn into the economy to stabilise the value of the naira from January to October, 2022.
This was obtained in the banking sector regulator’s monthly and quarterly economic reports on foreign exchange market developments.
The reports noted that $4.86bn, $4.81bn and $4.18bn were injected into the economy during the first, second and third quarters, respectively, while $1.46bn was injected in October.
The CBN stated, “Total foreign exchange sales to authorised dealers by the bank, at $4.86bn, decreased by 5.8 per cent, compared with the previous quarter’s level.
“Disaggregation shows that foreign exchange sales at interbank/invisibles and SMIS windows declined by 16.9 per cent and 10.8 per cent to $0.46bn and $1.79bn, respectively, relative to the levels in the preceding quarter.
“Similarly, SME interventions and sales at the Investors & Exporters window, decreased by 2.0 per cent and 26.7 per cent to $0.38bn and $1.41bn, compared with the amounts in the preceding quarter.”
It added that matured swap contracts rose by 187.33 per cent to $0.82bn, relative to the previous quarter’s level.
In the second quarter, the CBN stated, “Total foreign exchange sales to authorised dealers by the bank at $4.81bn, decreased by 0.9 per cent, compared with the level in the preceding quarter.
“Disaggregation shows that SME interventions and sales at the investors & exporters window declined by 8.6 per cent and 41.3 per cent to $0.34bn and $0.83bn, respectively, relative to the preceding quarter.
“However, interbank/invisibles and SMIS windows, increased by 5.3 per cent and 14.7 per cent to $0.48bn and $2.05bn, compared with the amounts in the preceding quarter.”
Similarly, the CBN stated that matured swap contracts rose by 34.6 per cent to $1.11bn, relative to the previous quarter’s level.
In the third quarter of 2022, it stated, “Total foreign exchange sales to authorised dealers by the Bank decreased in the review period. Foreign exchange sales at $4.18bn, decreased by 13.1 per cent, below the level in the preceding quarter.
“A disaggregation shows that foreign exchange sales at the Secondary Market Intervention Sales and Investors’ and Exporters’ windows, decreased by 10.5 per cent and 4.3 per cent to $1.83bn and $0.79bn, respectively. Similarly, matured swap contracts fell by 48.9 per cent to $0.57bn, relative to 2022, Q2.”
However, the CBN added that sales at the Small and Medium Enterprises and interbank/invisibles windows increased by 32.4 per cent and 10.0 per cent to $0.46bn and $0.53bn, respectively, relative to the levels in the preceding quarter.
In October, the CBN said, “Total foreign exchange sales to authorised dealers by the Bank was $1.46bn, an increase of 31.7 per cent, relative to $1.11bn in September.”
It said a disaggregation showed that foreign exchange sales at the Small and Medium Enterprises, Secondary Market Intervention Sales and the invisibles window increased by 27.0 per cent, 21.2 per cent and 61.2 per cent to $0.15bn, $0.58bn, and $0.24bn, respectively, relative to the previous month’s levels.
The report said, “Similarly, matured swap contract rose by 73.4 per cent to $0.36bn, from $0.21bn. However, sales at the Investors and Exporters window decreased by 20.3 per cent to $0.12bn in October, from $0.15bn in September 2022.”
The Punch
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has reduced its premium motor spirit price in Abuja.
Some motorists in Abuja confirmed the new fuel price adjustment at some NNPC retail outlets.
Reports quoted Abdullahi Hashim, a resident of Kubwa, Abuja, to have said: “I observed the drop in the fuel price to N935 per litre on Saturday morning. It is a welcome development.”
“I think I first saw this new price adjustment in Town, Wuse Zone 4 area, on Friday. NNPC filling station at Kubwa Expressway is just reflecting it,” Bukola Adewole also said.
The development comes after Dangote Refinery announced in its ex-depot petrol price to N835 per litre from N865.
The 650,000 barrels per day refinery had announced that its partners, such as MRS and AP filling stations, are expected to sell petrol between N890 and N920 per litre, depending on the location.
Meanwhile, MRS filling stations in Abuja have not been dispensing petrol since Wednesday, April 16, 2025, when Dangote Refinery announced a slash in ex-depot petrol price.
Technology and digital solutions services provider, Globacom, on Tuesday opened a retail shop in Ogbomoso, Oyo State. The opening of the retail shop is meant to bring Glo products and services closer to the people of the area.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Ikechukwu Onuekwusi, Globacom’s Retail Sales Chief for Oyo Division, stated that the commissioning of the retail and customer service shop was in keeping with Globacom’s goal of expanding its platforms to enable customers access its extensive array of products and services.
Said he: “As you are aware, our approach to customer service is underpinned by innovation and total inclusiveness. This is why we are consistently seeking innovative channels to make available our array of services to them”.
He disclosed that the newly commissioned facility also stocks high-end and reasonably priced devices, smartphones, and other accessories. He also assured customers in and around Ogbomoso of quick and satisfactory resolutions of all issues ranging from SIM replacement and registration to recovery of over-scratched cards, refilling, unblocking of phones and laptop configurations for internet services, among other services.
Globacom promised that courteous, well-trained, and customer-friendly staff have been deployed to the new shop to offer first-rate services and handle client complaints in addition to meeting their needs for products and services.
Honorable Timothy Oyedokun, the Chairman of Ogbomoso South Local Government, praised Globacom for always providing Nigerians with various forms of relief. He also commended Globacom for being a proud Nigerian company.
“Since I have known Globacom, it has not changed in its resolve to serve the people of this nation. This shows that the management holds the wellbeing of the people in high esteem”, he noted.
Equally, Mrs. Olufunke Olaniyi, the Local Government Secretary, Ogbomoso North Local Government, who spoke on behalf of the Chairman, Hon. George Gbadegesin Ogunlade, noted that the Glo “network belongs to us, so I want to encourage all sons and daughters to patronize Globacom”.
Business
UBA Expands Operations to Saudi Arabia, France, to Focus on Digital Transformation, Others in 2025
Africa’s Global Bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, has outlined its roadmap for the 2025 financial year, with a strong focus on innovation, digital transformation, physical and financial strength as well as its global reach.
On the back of its full-year financial performance for the year 2024, which was released to stakeholders on Tuesday, the bank disclosed plans to accelerate growth through strategic investments in technology, enhanced risk management frameworks, and capital efficiency.
UBA’s Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Oliver Alawuba, who was speaking to its global investors during the Full year 2024 Investors Conference Call, which held at the UBA Head Office on Thursday, explained that the performance reflected broad-based growth across its core businesses, surpassing previous records and reinforcing its status as a leading global financial institution.
At the end of the 2024 full-year, the bank delivered an exceptional financial performance as the results showed an impressive rise in the bank’s profit after tax which went up by 26.14 percent to close the year at N766.6 billion up from N607.7 billion recorded at the end of the 2023 fiscal year.
Its Gross earnings also grew significantly from N2.07tn recorded at the end of the 2023 financial year to N3.187tn in the period under consideration, representing a 53 percent growth.
Despite the highly challenging global economic and business environment, UBA recorded a profit before tax of N803.72 billion representing a 6 percent increase from N757.68 billion recorded at the end of the 2023 financial year.
Consequently, UBA Group Shareholders’ Funds rose from N2.030 trillion as at December 2023 to close the 2024 financial year at N3.419 trillion, achieving an impressive growth of 68.39 percent.
As a result of the impressive performance the bank proposed a final dividend of N3.00 kobo for every ordinary share of 50 kobo, for the financial year ended December 31, 2024.
Alawuba told the investors at the meeting that the bank is set to further surpass its growth projection through strategic investments in technology, enhanced risk management frameworks, and disciplined capital efficiency.
“We will continue to push the frontiers of innovation and technology adoption to build sustainable value for shareholders by making strategic investments in technology. Our team of committed and motivated workforce will continue to work assiduously to sustain our performance and propel the bank in delivering high-impact, customer-centric product offerings,” Alawuba stated.
He disclosed that the bank is on course to sustain the momentum that it has achieved in the past years, adding that “We shall remain focused on best-in-class risk management strategies in navigating emerging market uncertainties while ensuring financial strength, full regulatory compliance, and long-term sustainability.”
This performance underscores UBA’s ability to generate sustainable revenue growth through core operations, including increased loan book growth, deposit mobilization, and transaction banking.
While disclosing the Bank’s finalisation of its planned expansions to France and Saudi Arabia, he said that the Bank’s ex-Nigeria (Rest of Africa & International) operations have expanded significantly over the past five years, now contributing 51.7% of Group revenue, up from 31% in 2019, “delivering diversification benefits and further boosting long-term shareholder value. This will continue to grow, as we further explore strategic markets that align with our overall vision.”
UBA’s Executive Director, Finance & Risk Management, Ugo Nwaghodoh, said the bank recorded triple digit growth in net interest income, resulting in remarkable improvement in net interest margin from 6.83 percent in 2023 to 9.14 percent, while also recording strong double-digit growth in fee and commission income lines of 91.66 percent.
He explained that as the bank navigates evolving risks, its management remains focused on responsible growth, delivering customer-focused value propositions, whilst ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements in all jurisdictions.
United Bank for Africa is one of the largest employers in the financial sector on the African continent, with 25,000 employees group wide and serving over 45 million customers globally. Operating in twenty African countries and the United Kingdom, the United States of America, France and the United Arab Emirates, UBA provides retail, commercial and institutional banking services, leading financial inclusion and implementing cutting edge technology.
