Business
Nigeria’s External Reserves Rise 2.83% Amid Foreign Inflows
In a testament to Nigeria’s economic strength, the country’s external reserves have surged by 2.83% year-to-date, propelled by increased foreign capital and remittances.
Recent data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) reveals a noteworthy uptick, with foreign currency reserves reaching $34.11 billion as of March 7, 2024—up from $33.17 billion at the beginning of the year.
This boost in reserves, comprising foreign currencies, gold, and other international assets, reflects Nigeria’s ability to navigate and thrive amid global economic currents.
Recall that on Wednesday, the CBN unveiled a striking surge in Diaspora remittances.
February witnessed an extraordinary spike, with remittances skyrocketing by an astounding 433%, surging to $1.3 billion compared to the $300 million reported in January.
It said “We saw a 1.0 percent week-on-week (w/w) accretion in the foreign reserves to $34.02bn as of March 6th, 2024, owing to foreign capital inflow (evident in the year-to-date (YTD) foreign net inflows of $822.6m through the NAFEM window) following CBN’s drive to attract FX, analysts at Afrinvest Securities Limited.”
On Friday, the Naira experienced a 1.55% depreciation, with the dollar quoted at N1,627.40, marking a decline from Thursday’s N1,602.17, as reported by the FMDQ Securities Exchange.
The intraday high also weakened to N1,640 per dollar on Friday, compared to N1,635 on Thursday.
However, the intraday low showed improvement, reaching N1,413/$1 on Friday, stronger than Thursday’s N1,470/$1.
Notably, there was a substantial increase in dollar supply, rising by 63.48% to $269.35 million on Friday, up from $164.76 million recorded on Thursday.
In the parallel market, commonly referred to as the black market, the Naira remained stable at N1,620 per dollar.
Governor Olayemi Cardoso of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) announced, following the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting on February 27, 2024, that the country’s external reserves had increased to $34 billion from the initial $33 billion at the beginning of the year.
Moreover, on February 5, 2024, the CBN reported a reduction in the inherited $7 billion FX backlog to $2.2 billion.
The CBN expressed its commitment to resolving the outstanding balance, demonstrating efforts to address foreign exchange challenges.
According to a weekly report by Afrinvest, the Naira maintained stability across the FX market, trading within a similar band as the preceding week.
The report highlighted a 41.4% improvement in activity at the NAFEM Window, totaling $421.6 million, a notable increase from the previous week’s $473.1 million.
Furthermore, the report indicated a 4.9% week-on-week depreciation of the Naira against the dollar at the NAFEM Window, with the exchange rate falling to N1,627.40/$1.00.
Additionally, the parallel market witnessed a 5.3% week-on-week dip in the Naira against the dollar, settling at N1,600.00/$1.00.
It said “We note that the spread between the NAFEM and parallel rates sustained its streak for the second week though the weekly average declined 98.8 percent to N27.40.
“In the week ahead, the Naira is likely to trade within a similar band across FX segments, supported by intensified regulatory spotlight, the analysts.”
In a press briefing held in Abuja, Hakama Sidi Ali, the acting director of corporate communications at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), underscored a substantial increase in overseas remittances, surpassing four times the figures from the preceding month.
Ali emphasized the heightened interest of foreign investors in Nigerian assets, revealing investments exceeding $1 billion in February alone.
Additionally, she highlighted a positive trajectory in total portfolio flows for 2024, reaching $2.3 billion, showcasing promise compared to the $3.9 billion recorded for the entire previous year.
In addition, Ali highlighted that the momentum of increased foreign exchange inflows continued into March 2024.
This surge was attributed to a heightened investor appetite for short-term sovereign debt following adjustments to benchmark interest rates.
A significant development was observed in government securities issuances, with substantial oversubscription.
Foreign investors took a leading role, contributing to over 75 percent of the total bids received during auctions conducted on March 1 and 6, 2024.
The national oil company of the Republic of Congo, the Société Nationale des Pétroles du Congo (SNPC) and Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals (DPRP) are discussing a strategic partnership aimed at strengthening the Republic of the Congo’s supply of refined petroleum products.
The parties also have on the agenda, advancing regional energy cooperation and industrial integration across Africa, Biztellers can report.
SNPC Managing Director, Maixent Raoul Ominga, who led a delegation from his country on a visit to the DPRP, described the facility as a strategic asset for Africa and expressed the national oil company’s interest in developing a long-term partnership with Dangote.
“We have visited this remarkable refinery, which represents a major industrial achievement for Africa. The Republic of the Congo has refining capacity and we are keen to explore strategic cooperation that will help strengthen the supply of refined petroleum products while creating value for both organisations,” Ominga said.
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Discussions between both organisations, he said, focused on opportunities for collaboration in refining, petroleum products supply, energy security, industrial development, and knowledge sharing.
He praised the Dangote Group for demonstrating that Africa can successfully finance, build and operate world class industrial infrastructure, describing the refinery as an important milestone in the continent’s industrial transformation.
Ominga also commended the Group’s investments in the Republic of the Congo, particularly in the cement sector, noting that they have strengthened local industrial capacity, expanded production and improved access to construction materials.
On his part, President and Chief Executive of Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), Aliko Dangote, reaffirmed the Group’s commitment to Africa’s industrialisation through value addition, regional partnerships and investment across the continent.
“We are for Africa, not just Nigeria. Tell us what you need, and we will see how we can work together,” Dangote said.
He noted that the refinery has established a new benchmark for fuel quality in Africa by producing petroleum products that meet the highest international specifications, while improving access to cleaner fuels and reducing the continent’s dependence on imported refined products.
In the same vein, the Vice President, Oil and Gas, DIL, Devakumar Edwin, outlined the Group’s long term expansion strategy, which will increase its total refining capacity to 2.1 million barrels per day, comprising 1.4 million barrels per day in Nigeria and a planned 700,000 barrels per day refining complex in Kenya to serve East African markets.
He also disclosed plans by the Group to invest an additional US$46 billion between 2026 and 2028 across its refining, cement and fertiliser businesses as part of its drive to accelerate industrialisation across Africa.
The engagement underscores the shared commitment of SNPC and the DPRP to deepen African energy cooperation, strengthen regional value chains and promote greater self sufficiency in refined petroleum products as the continent advances towards enhanced energy security and increased intra African trade.
Also present at the meeting were Group Executive Director, Commercial, Oil and Gas, DIL, Fatima Aliko Dangote; Adviser to the President of the Republic of the Congo, Peggy Ndongo and advisers to the SNPC Managing Director, Aymar Ebiou and Norbert Mabiala.
As part of efforts to protect Nigeria’s oil revenues and energy infrastructure, the Nigerian Navy recently recovered approximately 22,870 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) in Rivers State.
It was gathered that the value of the seized petroleum product is put at about N39 Million.
The seizure, carried out under Operation Delta Sentinel, is part of an ongoing security intervention designed to disrupt illicit petroleum supply chains which the Navy says continue to undermine government earnings and legitimate operators in the oil and gas sector.
According to the Navy, personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) SOROH acted on intelligence reports and intercepted a wooden boat transporting 36 sacks of suspected illegally refined diesel in the Orashi Forest area of Okolomade Community, Abua/Odual Local Government Area of Rivers State.
In a media statement, Director of Information, Nigerian Navy, Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, revealed that further aerial surveillance and ground searches uncovered an additional 45 sacks of the product concealed under vegetation and inside ponds, bringing the total recovery to 81 sacks containing about 22,870 litres of AGO.
Navy Captain Forunsho stated that the operation highlights the growing use of intelligence and surveillance technology by security agencies to tackle crude oil theft and illegal refining activities, which industry stakeholders say contribute significantly to production losses, environmental degradation and reduced government revenue.
According to him, disrupting the logistics networks supporting illegal refining operations is critical to improving transparency in the petroleum value chain and safeguarding investments in Nigeria’s oil-producing region.
“The recovered products and the wooden boat used for transportation were handled in line with established anti-crude oil theft procedures.
Meanwhile, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, reaffirmed the commitment of the service to sustain intelligence-driven operations aimed at dismantling criminal networks involved in oil theft and protecting the nation’s strategic economic assets.
Business
Tanzania, Dangote Group Explore Multi-Billion-Dollar Investments in Infrastructure, Energy, Fertiliser
President Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania has held high level talks with President and Chief Executive of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, on a major expansion of the Group’s investments in Tanzania.
Biztellers reports that the discussions focused on transport infrastructure, fertiliser production, power generation, ports and regional trade.
The meeting, held at the State House in Dar es Salaam, reaffirmed the long-standing partnership between Tanzania and the Dangote Group while opening discussions on a new phase of investments aligned with the country’s industrialisation and economic transformation agenda.
Speaking after the meeting, Dangote said Tanzania remains one of Africa’s most attractive investment destinations, noting that the Group had identified several strategic sectors capable of delivering significant economic value.
“We have identified areas that can deliver significant value for Tanzania, and we are ready to work together to develop them for our mutual benefit,” he said.
The discussions covered a broad range of projects, including port development, the construction of a 40-kilometre concrete access road to support port operations, development of a special trade zone, a proposed 2,000-megawatt coal fired power plant, a urea fertiliser plant and transport infrastructure linking Mtwara with Mbamba Bay in southern Tanzania.
Dangote also explained the commercial and technical considerations behind the Group’s decision to locate its planned East African refinery in Lamu, Kenya, while extending an invitation to the Government of Tanzania to participate in the investment.
President Samia welcomed the Dangote Group’s continued confidence in Tanzania and directed relevant ministries and government agencies to commence detailed technical discussions on the proposed investments in line with the country’s legal, policy and development priorities.
She also appointed the Minister of Planning and Investment to coordinate the strategic partnership with Dangote Industries Limited, with both sides expected to begin formal negotiations in the coming days.
A Tanzanian government delegation led by the Minister is expected to visit Nigeria to advance discussions and develop implementation frameworks for the proposed projects.
According to a statement from the Directorate of Presidential Communications, the Government remains committed to strengthening partnerships with the private sector as part of efforts to mobilise productive investment, accelerate industrialisation, promote technology transfer, and create sustainable employment opportunities.
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Dangote Industries already operates one of Tanzania’s largest industrial investments through its US$500 million cement plant in Mtwara, which has an annual production capacity of three million tonnes and supplies both the domestic market and neighbouring countries.
The latest engagement deepens the partnership between Tanzania and the Dangote Group and reinforces the company’s position as one of Africa’s leading private sector investors driving regional industrialisation, infrastructure development, and economic integration.
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