Business
PoS Operators Set To Challenge CAC In Court
In a bold move, Point of Sale (PoS) operators, led by the National President of the Association of Mobile Money and Bank Agents, are gearing up for a legal battle against the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
The contentious issue revolves around the CAC’s recent directive mandating PoS operators to register with the commission.
President Fasasi Sarafadeen asserts that the directive violates existing legislation, particularly the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2004, which “explicitly states that the commission has no jurisdiction over individuals not operating as a company.
He said, “According to section 863(1) of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2004, the order to enforce CAC directive on individual PoS agents operating under their name is wrong and will be challenged, as it contravenes the Companies and Allied Matters Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, which explicitly states that CAC has no jurisdiction over individuals not operating as a company.
“We shall challenge it legally. The court will have to intervene in the interpretation of the quoted section of the CAMA if individuals operating as a sub-agent (likened to a bank branch) must register with CAC.
“CBN is right, no issue, the memo is clear, it only applies to non-individuals, unlike the Corporate Affairs Commission who generalised. We are in talks with the lawyer representing the association already, and a league of human rights lawyers whom we are not disclosing who they are for now.”
He explained that Point-of-Sale agents fall into two categories.
He said “CAMA only mandates registration of individuals operating as a company. There are two categories of POS agents: individuals and non-individuals. Individual agents operate under their names, such as Musa Caroline or Abubakar Audu, and are typically profiled with financial institutions under their names.
“Non-individual agents, on the other hand, operate under registered or unregistered business names, such as Wale Ventures or Johnson Enterprises. It is this second category of agents that the Corporate Affairs Commission can enforce the law on, as they are required to register their business names by the law.
“Sub agents are not carrying out as an independent company but branches of a company. For example, while commercial banks operate with bank branches across the country, Fintechs (MMO, super agents, and co) operate with a network of sub-agents. It is therefore lack of knowledge of the workings in a Fintech/agent banking industry to be tagging sub-agents as illegal.”
The head of AMMBAN stressed that the CAC’s priority should be addressing the alarming rate of business failures in Nigeria, rather than imposing regulatory obligations on individual POS agents operating under their names.
“The Corporate Affairs Commission should prioritise addressing the alarming failure rate of registered businesses in Nigeria, rather than targeting sub-agents. With over 4.9 million businesses registered, 50 per cent of which fail every five years, this should be the focus.
“In addition, the Central Bank of Nigeria’s memo specifically addressed non-individual agents, not individual sub-agents, and CAC’s threat to harass sub-agents is unwarranted and excessive.” He added
This new directive follows a series of fraud incidents involving POS terminals and the Central Bank of Nigeria’s plans to prohibit trading in cryptocurrency or any virtual currency.
According to a fraud report by the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System Plc, POS terminals accounted for 26.37% of fraud incidents in 2023.
BIZTELLERS recalls that the CBN halted major fintech firms such as Kuda, Opay, PalmPay, and Moniepoint from accepting new customers.
Additionally, these companies were instructed to caution their customers against trading in cryptocurrency or any virtual currency on their platforms, with the warning of potential account blocks for those engaging in such activities.”
The CBN’s action was connected to an ongoing audit of the Know-Your-Customer process of fintechs, which have faced heightened scrutiny due to concerns about money laundering and terrorism financing.
Prior to the CBN’s directive, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had secured a court order to freeze a minimum of 1,146 bank accounts belonging to individuals and companies allegedly implicated in illicit foreign exchange dealings.
Business
Shareholders Laud NGX Group at 65th AGM
Shareholders of Nigerian Exchange Group Plc (NGX Group) have commended the Board and Management for the Group’s performance and strategic direction, urging continued focus on growth and long-term value creation.
At the Group’s 65th Annual General Meeting (AGM), shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2025, alongside key resolutions including a final dividend of ₦2.00 per share, a one-for-three bonus share issue, and the corresponding increase in share capital. The re-election of Dr. Umaru Kwairanga, Group Chairman, Board of Directors, Dr. Okechukwu Itanyi, Independent Non-Executive Director and Mrs. Ojinika Olaghere, Independent Non-Executive Director reinforced continuity in governance and oversight.
They acknowledged the Group’s disciplined execution and its role in strengthening the Nigerian capital market, noting that recent developments reflect a more structured and better-regulated market environment.
Speaking during the meeting, the President, New Dimension Shareholders Association, Patrick Ajudua, commended the leadership of the Group for delivering a strong financial outcome, noting that the results reflect both improved market conditions and deliberate strategic execution. “The numbers speak to a business that is gaining strength and direction,” he said.
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Similarly, the Chairman of the Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria, Boniface Okezie, lauded the Group’s commitment to innovation and infrastructure development. “The market is becoming more forward-looking, supported by strong leadership at the Group level. Initiatives around market infrastructure and participation are yielding results, and this is positive for investors,” he noted.
Commenting during the AGM, Chairman of NGX Group, Umaru Kwairanga, appreciated shareholders for their continued support and reaffirmed the Board’s commitment to sustainable value delivery. He said, “The progress recorded reflects the strength of the Group’s strategy and the performance of its operating businesses. As a Board, our responsibility is to ensure disciplined oversight, uphold strong governance standards, and position NGX Group to deliver sustainable, long-term value to shareholders.”
Temi Popoola, group managing director/chief executive officer, focused on execution priorities, noting that the Group is positioning for scale. He said, “This next phase is about deepening momentum. Our priority is to scale infrastructure, broaden participation, and unlock new pathways for capital formation.”
The meeting reflected strong shareholder confidence in NGX Group’s leadership, with the Group reaffirming its commitment to playing a central role in the evolution of Nigeria’s capital market while delivering sustained returns to investors.
Business
S’Leone Inks $225m Offshore Oil Deal with Nigeria’s Marginal Energy
Sierra Leone has announced the signing of a petroleum licence agreement with Nigeria‑based Marginal Energy Limited, granting the company offshore exploration and production rights as the government seeks to revive interest in its under‑explored upstream sector.
The licence, signed through the Petroleum Directorate of Sierra Leone (PDSL), covers offshore blocks G‑145, G‑146, G‑147, G‑160 and G‑161, spanning about 6,800 square kilometres, according to a government statement, a Reuters report said.
Marginal Energy, a Nigerian independent, has committed to a seismic and drilling programme with exploration spending expected to exceed $225 million.
Under the agreement, the state will hold a 10 percent carried interest in oil projects and 5 percent in gas during exploration and development, with an option to acquire an additional participating interest on a paid basis of up to 9 percent once production begins.
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The deal was signed at the Invest in African Energy conference in Paris, where Sierra Leone has been promoting offshore licensing opportunities to international investors, the report added.
Business
NASCON Delights Shareholders with 200% Increase in Dividend Payout
NASCON Allied Industries Plc has rewarded its shareholders with a historic 200 per cent increase in dividend payout, underscoring a remarkable financial performance that saw profit after tax surge by over 100 per cent to N33.5 billion in the 2025 financial year, despite a challenging operating environment.
The strong performance was unveiled at the Company’s 2025 Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Lagos, where shareholders applauded the resilience, focus and strategic discipline of NASCON’s management and Board.
Reflecting the robust results, the Board of Directors approved a dividend of N6 per share—the highest since the Company was listed on the Nigerian Exchange, signalling NASCON’s confidence in its financial strength and long-term growth prospects.
Earnings per share (EPS) rose sharply by 115 per cent, from 577 kobo in the previous year to 1,241 kobo. Describing the outcome as the best financial performance in NASCON’s history, the Chairman, Mr. Olakunle Alake, attributed the results to improved operational efficiency, strict cost management and the dedication of the Company’s workforce.
“The operating environment in 2025 was characterised by economic volatility, persistent inflation and structural changes across key sectors,” Alake said. “Yet, NASCON remained resilient and strategically focused, delivering outstanding value to shareholders.”
He noted that operational sustainability remains a core pillar of the Company’s strategy. During the year, NASCON introduced Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) trucks into its logistics fleet to reduce fuel costs and minimise exposure to diesel price volatility. In addition, the Company’s state-of-the-art salt refinery, its largest production facility, now runs entirely on natural gas, significantly boosting efficiency while reinforcing NASCON’s commitment to environmental sustainability.
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The Managing Director, Mrs. Aderemi Saka, highlighted key milestones recorded during the year, including a 27 per cent growth in revenue and exceptional returns to shareholders through dividends. She attributed the achievements to a clear strategic vision, disciplined execution and sustained focus on cost-saving initiatives across production, logistics and fleet management.
Looking ahead to 2026, Saka reaffirmed management’s determination to build on the current momentum. She outlined strategic priorities for the coming year, including deeper cost optimisation, expanded market penetration, strengthened energy diversification and sustainability initiatives, as well as accelerated digital transformation and process automation.
In her remarks, Director Mrs. Tonya Lawani emphasised that the Company remains firmly committed to the principles that have driven its excellent performance, noting that NASCON approaches the new financial year from a position of strength, with further opportunities for growth and improvement.
Speaking on behalf of shareholders, Dr. Faruk Umar expressed strong confidence in the Company’s trajectory, citing NASCON’s rising share price, which recently crossed the N100 mark, and projecting further appreciation. He commended the quality of the Board and management team, noting that strong leadership and recent executive appointments have positioned the Company to deliver even greater value to all stakeholders.
With its record-breaking profit, unprecedented dividend payout and forward-looking strategy, NASCON Allied Industries Plc continues to consolidate its position as a leading force in Nigeria’s manufacturing sector while delighting shareholders with sustained value creation.
Photo Caption:
From Left: Company Secretary, NASCON Allied Industries Plc, Oluseun Oluwole; Chairman, NASCON Allied Industries Plc, Olakunle Alake; Managing Director, NASCON Allied Industries Plc, Aderemi Saka; Non-Executive Director, NASCON Allied Industries Plc, Fatima Aliko Dangote; Independent Director, NASCON Allied Industries Plc, Tonya Lawani, at the NASCON Allied Industries Plc 2025 Annual General Meeting held in Lagos on Monday, April 27, 2026





