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2024 The Year of Tensed Business Environment

Foreign Direct Investment, the most critical investment that shows long-term investor confidence dropped to $103.82 million in Q3 2024, or 8.29 per cent.”

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That’s how Chinyere Almona, the Director-General of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), summed up the outgoing 2024 and urged Nigerian companies to prepare for “more stress in 2025.”

Almona said: ” It was a year of higher inflation, interest rates, and exchange rates, making the country less attractive to investors.

“The persistent rise in the inflation rate, reaching a 28-year record high of 34.60 in November, continues to fuel a tense business environment as elevated prices constrain various business operations,” Almona said.

The LCCI is particularly concerned because, with the persistent and unabated rise in inflation, businesses should prepare for more stress from the burden of higher interest rates as we enter the new year.

“A disappointing negative record of our capital importation at $1.25 billion during the third quarter of 2024 compared with $2.60 billion recorded in the preceding second quarter of the year points to an unattractive environment for investors.

“Foreign Direct Investment, the most critical investment that shows long-term investor confidence dropped to $103.82 million in Q3 2024, or 8.29 per cent.”

The LCCI boss said the rising costs of food, energy, housing, transportation, and services are driving inflation, worsening economic conditions, and reducing both purchasing power and business profitability.

Segun Ajayi-Kadir,  the Director-General of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), noted that the government must take decisive action to reverse the trends in 2025.

Ajayi-Kadir said that the harsh himfect of hostile economic policies has largely constrained the country’s goal of rapid industrialisation and has left the economy struggling for survival.

He said that for a positive outlook in the coming year,  especially for the manufacturing sector, MAN recommends the following:

  1. Create special windows for providing single-digit interest rates to productive sectors and relax stringent conditions for SMEs to access funding

.2.  Retain the current excise duty of N10 per litre on non-alcoholic beverages to avoid shutting down the industry.

3. Recapitalize the Bank of Industry (BOI) to meet the growing credit demand of industries.

4. Implement the recommendations of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee.

5. Review import duty rates for production inputs, particularly those not locally available, and consider pegging the rate at N800.

6. Direct the Central Bank of Nigeria to clear $2.4 billion outstanding dollar obligations on FX forward contracts to support manufacturers.

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Business

Royal African Society marks 125 years of Africa – Britain Businesses

The anniversary featured the Closing of Markets Ceremony and ringing of the exchange’s closing bell, alongside high-level sector discussions, fireside chats, the presentation of philanthropy awards and the unveiling of the Top African Brands in the UK and Top British Brands in Africa.

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• Arunma Oteh, Chairperson of the Royal African Society

The Royal African Society has marked 125 years anniversary of Africa and Britain businesses and investments at a ceremony held at the London Stock Exchange.

The Wednesday event brought together the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II; President and Chief Executive Officer of Africa Finance Corporation, Samaila Zubairu; Chief Executive Officer of British International Investment, Leslie Maasdorp; Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Flutterwave, Olugbenga “GB” Agboola; Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Royal African Society, Stella Okotete; and other business, diplomatic and policy leaders.

Chairperson of the Royal African Society, Arunma Oteh, said that the organisation had spent 125 years fostering partnerships between both regions.

Oteh said that the celebration was aimed at deepening collaboration between Africa and the UK while promoting investment, innovation and shared prosperity.

The anniversary featured the Closing of Markets Ceremony and ringing of the exchange’s closing bell, alongside high-level sector discussions, fireside chats, the presentation of philanthropy awards and the unveiling of the Top African Brands in the UK and Top British Brands in Africa.

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Business

US subjects imports from Nigeria to 12.5% tariff

The tariff affects imports from 60 economies that Washington says have not “imposed and effectively enforced a prohibition on the importation of goods produced with forced labour.”

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The United States has imposed a 12.5 per cent tariff on imports from Nigeria as part of a new trade measure targeting countries it says have failed to prohibit the importation of goods produced with forced labour.

The tariff affects imports from 60 economies that Washington says have not “imposed and effectively enforced a prohibition on the importation of goods produced with forced labour.”

The measure was announced in a statement posted on the website of the Office of the United States Trade Representative on Thursday.

Nigeria is among the countries subject to the 12.5 per cent tariff, while India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico and the United Kingdom will face a lower 10 per cent rate after adopting or committing to implement bans on imports linked to forced labour.

The move follows investigations launched by the USTR in May 2026 into 60 of the United States’ largest trading partners under Section 301 of the Trade Act.

According to the agency, it received more than 1,600 written submissions, held public hearings involving over 100 witnesses, and consulted more than 45 governments before announcing the tariffs.

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Business

MTN Nigeria asks customers to trade old SIM packs for prizes

MTN named eight collection centres across the country where customers can deposit their items. The locations cover Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Jos, Delta, Port Harcourt, and Ibadan.

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MTN Nigeria has invited customers to bring in old SIM packs, recharge cards, booster cards, dongles, and MTN-branded phones in exchange for prizes.

The telecom giant is running the campaign the under the hashtag #YelloMoments.

MTN launched the campaign on Wednesday, July 23, via its official social media pages, telling followers that items kept in drawers over the years could be worth something.

Customers who participate will also be featured on what MTN described as a “Memory Wall.”

Collection centres across Nigeria

MTN named eight collection centres across the country where customers can deposit their items. The locations cover Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Jos, Delta, Port Harcourt, and Ibadan.

In Lagos, customers can visit MTN Plaza at No. 1 Awolowo Road, Falomo, Ikoyi, or the office at 43 Allen Avenue, Ikeja. In Abuja, the collection point is at No. 4, Medeira Street, Maitama.

In Kano, it is at 2, Civil Centre Road. In Jos, Plateau State, the centre is at Plot 3119, Royalfield Road.

In Asaba, Delta State, the location is KLM 129, Benin–Asaba Expressway. In Port Harcourt, Rivers State, customers can go to 234, Old Aba Expressway, Opposite Hannah Fast Food.

In Ibadan, Oyo State, the drop-off point is at MTN Regional Office 1, Olubadan Avenue and Up/Zartech Road, Oluyole Estate.

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