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Economy

Subsidy Removal: Ibadan Deserts Stations, Lagos Shocked, P-Harcourt Watches, NLC-FG Talk Deadlocked

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…Nigerians Express Concerns Over Immediate Implementation***

The fuel queue which had created motley crowds of rowdy buyers on Tuesday and the early part of Wednesday in the few dispensing petrol stations, suddenly disappeared in Ibadan, as filling stations changed prices and hiked it to N500 per litre.

A petrol station on the old Ife Road, near the Loyola College, had dispensed fuel earlier at slightly above N200 per litre to grudging customers, until the Station managers received new directives, mandating them to hike their price.

They complied, and momentarily, the queue disappeared, as buyers fled the petrol station. Even those who had claimed that they came into the station with their vehicles on red light, suddenly had enough to drive home.

A correspondent who drove through the city, from Alakia, through Total Garden to the University of Ibadan, observed that more stations hitherto closed for business opened stations, immediately. Only the Bovas had little patronage because buyers could vouchsafe their integrity.

In the meantime, Nigerians have expressed concern over the sudden implementation of subsidy removal in spite of President Bola Tinubu’s assurance that it would not take effect immediately.

In Lagos, it was a matter of shock for buyers as the new price came up. 

On the Ogudu – Toll Gate- Berger axis, Commuters, particularly those on the Inter-State trips, expressed bewilderment, and started slashing whatever litres they had planned to buy.

Some drivers threatened to go back to their Parks, even as several passengers cough out additional fares.

The story from Port Harcourt, was however that shocked buyers simply watched, helplessly. (See video).

A cross section of residents of Ibadan, Oyo State, however expressed their feelings on Wednesday in separate interviews in Ibadan. 

An Entredepreneur, Mr Tobi Adeyemi, said the development was not a good one.

According to Adeyemi, the new administration should have provided some sort of respite for Nigerians considering the enormous hardship being faced by Nigerians.

“This will definitely affect prices of goods and services; from tomatoes sellers to foodstuffs; transportation, increase in fuel price and so on.

“We will all bear the brunt of it together. I only pity salary earners who are on a fixed income. Besides, I don’t believe this is the right timing,” Adeyemi said.

Also, a sales representative, Dr Adeyinka Adekunle, said the previous administration had budgeted for subsidy till the end of June.

“So, to me it was shocking to learn that the removal had taken effect from May 31 based on what the previous administration had done.

“Everything is sort of confusing now because of the budgetary provision for subsidy till June end,” Adekunle said.

He however, said a nation that was going to be great has to go through some teething periods.

In his remarks, an artisan, Mr Akinola Akinkunmi, said he has yet to comprehend the situation, because things were hard already and buying fuel at N500 per litre now would worsen the situation.

Akinkunmi said: “I cannot yet wrap my mind around how my business will survive; we are already struggling to make ends meet.

“With this development and absence of power supply from the distributing company, we are definitely going further down the poverty line.

“We need support from the government; we need help to survive this time,” Akinkunmi said.

Another entrepreneur, Mr Demola Adedeji, said the timing was not right as the economy had been in bad shape for some time now.

“At least, some things should have been put in place before the total removal of subsidy,” Adedeji said.

In his contributions, Mr Yinka Ajadi, a businessman, said that many people would go into depression as blood pressure of many Nigerians struggling to survive the situation would rise.

Ajadi said, “We can only hope for critical intervention at this time such as solving the problem of power and production inputs.”

Meanwhile, the orchestrated meeting between the Federal Government and the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) over subsidy removal has reportedly ended in a stalemate.

The Maritime First learnt that the meeting which was held at the Presidential Villa on Wednesday failed to attract any reasonable conclusion, as parties across the divide stuck to their guns.

It was further gathered that while the Organised Labour was represented by NLC National President, Joe Ajaero, and the President of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), Festus Osifo, and other top labour party notchers.

The Federal Government was however represented by people who included the former labour leader and former Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, President Bola Tinubu’s spokesman, Dele Alake, the Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited Mele Kyari, and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele.

Specifically, the National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero reportedly criticised the Federal Government, stressing the need to revert to the status quo ante,  because the government failed to either negotiate or protect the Nigerian workers’ interest, before yanking off the subsidy.

The Federal Government on the other hand had argued that the labour had all the time in the world to negotiate with the Buhari government and therefore lacked the moral rights to talk of negotiations now.

The Organised labour therefore said it was going to throw the inconclusive results of their meeting to the Congress whose decision would be final, a euphemism for a nationwide strike.

Consequently, Government representatives called for a rescheduled meeting in a bid to enable further discussions or negotiations.

Economy

NGX Market Capitalisation Gains N836bn

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Stock Market Gains N18bn; FTN Cocoa Processors, Prestige Assurance lead Losers’ Chart 

…Tantalizers, NASCON lead the losers’ chart 

The Nigerian Exchange Ltd.(NGX) market capitalisation, which opened at N57.697 trillion on Tuesday, gained N836 billion or 1.45 percent closing at N58.533 trillion.

Also, the All-Share Index rose by 1.45 percent or 1,480 points to close at 103,524.44, as against 102,044.84 recorded on Monday.

As a result, the Year-To-Date (YTD) return rose to 38.45 percent.

Interest in Telco heavyweight and Tier-one banks such as MTN Nigeria, UBA, Access Corporation, Guaranty Trust Holding Company(GTCO), and sustained interest in Transcorp Power(TransPower) kept the market in the green.

Market breadth closed positive with 35 gainers and 14 losers.

On the gainer’s chart, UBA led in percentage terms of 10 to close at N25.30, followed by MTN by 9.98 percent to close at N243.50 per share.

Julius Berger also gained 9.71 percent to close at N61, While Access Corporation rose by 9.51 percent to close at N22.45 per share.

Veritas Kapital Assurance went up by 9.38 percent to close at 70k per share.

Conversely, Tantalizers led the loser’s chart by 7.89 percent to close at 35k, and National Salt Company of Nigeria(NASCON) trailed by 6.77 percent to close at N53.70.

Morison Industries Plc shed 6.62 percent to close at N1.41, C&I Leasing lost 6.45 percent to close at N3.48, while Cutix Plc dropped 6.30 percent to close at N2.53 per share.

However, analysis of the market activities showed trade turnover settled lower, relative to the previous session.

The value of transactions was also down by 16.76 percent.

A total of 565.79 million shares valued at N14.23 billion were exchanged in 11,519 deals,  compared to 436.90 million shares valued at N17.09 billion exchanged in 11,344 deals traded on Monday.

On the activity chart, Transcorp led in volume with 170.72 million shares traded at a value of N3.13 billion, Access Corporation followed by 48.57 million shares valued at N1.06 billion.

GTCO sold 39.04 million shares worth N165.80 million, Jaiz Bank traded 36.78 million shares valued at N72.51 million and UBA transacted 31.96 million shares valued at N796.24 million

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Economy

SIFAX Group Appoints Basil Agboarumi As Executive Director

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SIFAX Group, one of the leading business conglomerates in Nigeria with investment in Maritime, Aviation, Oil & Gas, Haulage & Logistics, Financial Services, and Hospitality, has appointed Basil Agboarumi as its new Executive Director of corporate and Intergovernmental Affairs.

Agboarumi recently completed his term as the Managing Director/CEO of the Skyway Aviation Handling Company Plc. (SAHCO Plc.), one of the subsidiaries of SIFAX Group.

Agboarumi holds a National Diploma (OND) in Mass Communication from the Federal Polytechnic, Auchi and a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Mass Communication from the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, a Master in Communications (MSc) from the Lagos State University and a Certificate in Creative Design & Digital Communications from the School of Media & Communications of the Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos. He also holds a Management Certificate in Civil Aviation from Concordia University, Montreal, Canada.

Basil Agboarumi, Executive Director, Corporate and Intergovernmental Affairs

After the privatization and subsequent takeover of SAHCOL by SIFAX Group in 2009, Agboarumi was appointed the Head of Corporate Communications to spearhead the re-branding of the new company. He was subsequently appointed the company’s Managing Director in 2018. Under his leadership, SAHCO Plc was listed on the Nigeria Stock Exchange while many airlines, both local and foreign, signed business deals with the company due to its excellent and cutting-edge services which include passenger handling, ramp handling, and cargo handling.

Agboarumi has over 25 years of professional in public relations, reputation management, brand development, media relations, business development, and government relations.

Speaking on the new appointment, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, Chairman, SIFAX Group, said Agboarumi brings vast experience and records of achievements to his new role, adding that these qualities will help him succeed in the new role.

He said: “He demonstrated the capacity and ability to navigate different terrains as a leader during his time as the Managing Director of SAHCO. The COVID-19 pandemic hit shortly after he took over the reins at SAHCO, but he was able to steer the ship of the company to profitability despite the uncertainties that characterised the global aviation business at the time. I am convinced the Group will benefit tremendously from his wealth of experience as he assumes this new role.”

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Economy

NGX All-Share Index Crosses 100,000 Mark

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Stock Market Gains N18bn; FTN Cocoa Processors, Prestige Assurance lead Losers’ Chart 

…Guinness Nigeria and FTN Cocoa Processors lead the losers’ table

The All-Share Index, one of the performance indices of the Nigerian Exchange Ltd.(NGX), on Thursday, crossed a 100,000 mark for the second time in the year.

Having crossed the mark on Jan. 24, and later dropped, the All-Share Index specifically added 0.75 percent or 744 points to settle at 100,335.3, compared to 99,591.64 posted on Wednesday.

Consequently, investors gained N420 billion or 0.75 percent, as the market capitalisation which opened at N56.310 trillion, closed at N56.730 trillion.

Also, the Year-To-Date (YTD)return rose to 33.19 percent.

Improved buy interest in the shares of Dangote Sugar, MTN Nigeria, Transcorp Power, Oando Plc, and Cornerstone, alongside other top gainers drove the equity market to a positive terrain.

Analysis of the market activities showed trade turnover settled lower relative to the previous session, with the value of transactions down by 9.11 percent.

However, market breadth closed negative with 33 losers and 25 gainers.

On the gainers table, Dangote Sugar and MTN led in percentage terms of 10 percent each to close at N50.60 and N201.30 per share, respectively.

Transcorp Power followed closely by 9.99 percent to close at N351.30, while Juli Plc added 9.96 percent to close at N4.97 per share.

National Salt Company of Nigeria (NSCN) rose by 9.92 percent to close at N47.65 per share.

On the other hand, Guinness Nigeria and FTN Cocoa Processors led the losers’ table by 10 percent each to close at N45.90 and N1.53 per share, respectively.

Transcorp also lost 9.95 percent to close at N17.10, Ikeja Hotel shed 9.93 percent to close at N6.08, while Redstarex declined by 9.87 percent to close at N3.38 per share.

Stock Market Gains N18bn; FTN Cocoa Processors, Prestige Assurance lead Losers’ Chart 

A total of 554.72 million shares valued at N17.73 billion were exchanged in 9,708 deals, compared to 416.48 million shares valued at N19.51 billion exchanged in 9,338 deals.

On the activity table, Transnational Corporation (Transcorp) led both in volume and value with 301.36 million shares traded in value of  N5.65 billion.

Sterling Nigeria sold 33.32 million shares worth N150.78 million, while FBN Holdings traded 23.21 million shares valued at N773.91 million.

Also, United Bank of Africa (UBA) transacted 18.38 million shares worth N400.29 million and Zenith Bank sold 17.08 million shares valued at N583.93 million.

Reacting, a stockbroker with Premium Capital, Mr Victor Ibrahim, said that the improved performance of the equity market was due to renewed investors’ expectations from the current government’s policies.

Ibrahim stated in Lagos that investors were keying into the future benefits of the economy by boosting their investment in the equity market.

He said, “The stock market is a leading indicator of the Nigerian economy and as such, with government policies such as the free-flow economy, investors confidence in our market has been boosted.

“The artificial scarcity of dollars in order to underprice or devalue the Naira is also another indicator.

“This is because the price of stocks in the Nigerian equity market is cheaper for foreign investors and those local investors who have dollars in reserve.

“While the Nigerian economy may presently appear tough, investors are keying into the future opportunities in the current government’s policies with the belief in the capacity of President Bola Tinubu.”

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