Economy

Flooding: Almost N2 Trillion CBN Agriculture Schemes at Risk

The recent flooding across the country has affected over 569,000 hectares of farmlands putting the Central Bank of Nigeria’s agricultural scheme worth almost N2 trillion at risk.

Published

1 year ago

October 29, 2022

Investors King

The recent flooding across the country has affected over 569,000 hectares of farmlands putting the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s agricultural scheme worth almost N2 trillion at risk.

The widespread floods destroyed multi-billion dollar farmlands, as farmers have consistently expressed their displeasure and worries in regard to the repayment of loans obtained from CBN under the agricultural schemes initiated by the bank.

The President of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Kabir Ibrahim said the flood happenings this year have been devastating, putting thousands of farmers in confusion, worried that the loans from the apex bank would definitely be affected in terms of repayment.

Ibrahim said many farmers have lost their entire cultivated plantation to the flood, stating Jigawa State as an example, he added that most of the rice farms in the state were completely destroyed.

“This year, because of the flooding of farmlands, so many farmers have lost the entire plantation that they cultivated. Jigawa State is a typical example. Most of the rice farms there were completely lost and this is the situation in many other states,” Ibrahim stated. “Now tell me, would it be easy for these farmers to repay the loans?’ He added.

The document obtained by Investors King from the central bank showed that over N1 trillion were remitted as loans under the bank’s Anchor Borrowers Program, however, about N400 billion has been repaid.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has urged Nigerians to support victims of recent flooding in the country.

The request was made by Garba Abari, the Director General of the National Orientation Agency, he said the victims were in a critical situation and needed every genuine Nigerian to come through for them, adding that it is not something the government could handle alone.

Reports from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) show that more than 600 lives have been lost with over 2,400 persons injured and about 1,302,589 persons displaced.

More than 2.5 million persons have been affected in one way or another while about 569,251 hectares of farmlands have been totally destroyed.

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Economy

Inflation and Forex Mismanagement Drive Petrol Truck Prices from N7M to N25M

Published

1 day ago

December 8, 2023

Investors King

The Chairman of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria in the Satellite Depot branch, Akin Akinrinade, has raised an alarm over the rising cost of petrol trucks in Nigeria.

According to Akinrinade, the cost of a petrol truck has surged from N7 million in May to an astonishing N25 million at present, attributed to inflation induced by poorly managed foreign exchange rates.

Akinrinade pointed out that the forex mismanagement has significantly impacted the landing cost of premium motor spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, consequently leading to a surge in pump prices.

The unstable business environment, coupled with the astronomical rise in expenses, has created challenges for marketers in the downstream oil sector.

Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), highlighted in October 2023 that foreign exchange challenges have hindered private companies from importing petroleum products.

As a result, the NNPCL has become the exclusive importer of petrol.

The decision to limit private entities from importing fuel comes after President Bola Tinubu’s initiatives aimed at deregulating the fuel market.

Initially, the plan was to allow private companies to import fuel starting June 2023, aligning with efforts to balance the market after removing petrol subsidies.

The ripple effects of the soaring petrol costs are already evident, with commercial transporters increasing fares, and private car owners seeking fuel-saving alternatives.

As Christmas approaches, the surge in demand for interstate travel is expected to further elevate costs, posing financial challenges for many Nigerians amidst stagnant income levels.

Economy

Nigeria’s Presidential CNG Initiative Allocates N100bn for CNG Buses and EV Adoption

Published

3 days ago

December 7, 2023

Investors King

The Presidential Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Initiative has allocated N100 billion to expedite the deployment of CNG buses nationwide, according to a statement released on Wednesday.

The initiative, designed to catalyze an Auto-gas and Electric Vehicle (EV) revolution in mass transit and transportation, aims to enhance sustainability and cost-effectiveness.

The statement revealed that the fund would be instrumental in supporting the adoption of auto-gas and electric vehicles, signaling a commitment to a more sustainable and economical future in the transportation sector.

The Presidential CNG Initiative plans to leverage over 11,500 CNG and electric-fueled vehicles, along with the deployment of 55,000 conversion kits.

This strategic approach is intended to reduce transportation costs for Nigerians and mitigate the challenges posed by the rising cost of living.

Under the Renewed Hope Agenda, the Presidential CNG Initiative is dedicated to realizing the President’s vision, guided by its steering committee led by FIRS Chairman Zacch Adedeji.

The statement highlighted recent achievements, including strategic technical partnerships and the ongoing commissioning of CNG Conversion centers in key states such as Lagos, Abuja, Kaduna, Ogun, and Rivers.

Several more centers are slated for commissioning in the coming weeks, reflecting the initiative’s momentum and commitment to achieving its objectives.

Economy

Nigeria’s Power Transformation: 53 Projects Worth N122bn on Track for May 2024 Completion

Published

3 days ago

December 7, 2023

Investors King

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), in collaboration with the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and power distribution companies, is set to complete 53 power projects by May next year.

Valued at N122 billion, these projects aim to add over 1,000 megawatts to TCN’s wheeling capacity.

During a recent tour of three ongoing projects in Lagos, TCN’s Programme Coordinator, Mathew Ajibade, assured that the projects were not abandoned, refuting speculations.

He confirmed that work is progressing smoothly and is expected to be completed by May 2024, as initially planned.

Assistant Director/Head of Infrastructure Finance Office at the CBN, Tumba Tijani, highlighted the CBN’s support for the power sector, revealing that the bank released a loan at a 9% interest rate in August last year for the projects.

The funding, part of the Nigeria Electricity Market Stabilisation Facility-3, amounts to N122,289,344 and aims to address transmission/distribution bottlenecks, enhance supply to end-users, and unlock unutilized generation capacity.

Tijani disclosed that N85.43 billion has been disbursed into the Advance Payment Guarantee account of the 53 contractors responsible for executing the projects.

The comprehensive project list includes the delivery of power transformers, re-conductoring existing transmission lines, upgrading existing substations, and constructing 33KV line bays.

The initiative reflects a concerted effort to enhance Nigeria’s power infrastructure and meet growing energy demands.