Business
PenCom bracing up to invest in Dangote Refinery’s IPO, urges PFAs
The decision effectively grants PFAs access to part of Nigeria’s N29.5 trillion pension assets for investment in the refinery, marking it one of the most significant regulatory adjustments in the pension industry in recent years.
The National Pension Commission (PenCom) has approved the investment of pension assets in the proposed initial public offering (IPO) of Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals, opening the door for pension fund administrators (PFAs) to participate in one of Africa’s biggest industrial projects.
The decision effectively grants PFAs access to part of Nigeria’s N29.5 trillion pension assets for investment in the refinery, marking it one of the most significant regulatory adjustments in the pension industry in recent years.
PenCom, in a circular displayed on its website, described the approval as a “specific and singular exception” to existing investment regulations because of the refinery’s strategic importance to the Nigerian economy.
Under current pension investment guidelines, PFAs are generally prohibited from investing contributors’ funds in companies without a proven history of profitability and dividend payments.
However, the commission said the refinery’s scale, financial structure and expected economic impact justified the waiver.
Business
Naira Exchange Rates Tuesday, August 25
BLACK MARKET RATES
US Dollar (USD) Buy ₦1,400 Sell ₦1,405
Great British Pound(GBP) Buy ₦1,900 Sell: ₦1,920
EURO (EUR) Buy ₦1,590 Sell ₦1,610
Canadian Dollar (CAD) Buy ₦1,020 Sell ₦1,080
South African Rand (ZAR) Buy ₦75 Sell ₦90
Ghana CEDI (GHS) Buy ₦95 Sell ₦110
West African CFA Buy ₦2, 300 Sell ₦2, 400
CENTRAL AFRICAN CFA Buy ₦2,150 Sell 2,250
CBN Exchange Rates
US Dollar (USD) ₦1,346.98
Great British Pound (GBP) ₦1,837 54
EURO (EUR) ₦1,571.52
Swiss Franc (CHF) ₦1,678.89
Chinese Yuan (CNY) ₦200.37
Japanese Yen (Yen) ₦8.46
West African CFA (XOF) ₦2. 40
West African Unit Account (WAUA) ₦1,849. 43
Saudi Riyal (SAR) ₦358.73
South African Rand (ZAR) ₦84.11
Business
NAFDAC Gives Conditions For Reopening Sealed Factories of Alcoholic Manufacturers
The reopening and continued opening of any facility shall be subject to:Full compliance with the nationwide recall directive. Payment of all applicable investigative charges and regulatory fees…
• NAFDAC DG, Prof Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Monday gave the conditions for the reopening of sealed factories of alcoholic beverages manufacturers nationwide.
At a press briefing in Lagos, the agency’s Director – General, Prof Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, also directed the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN), the Association of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employers (AFBTE), and their member companies who have not comply with the ban on alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and PET (plastic) bottles below 200ml to do so.
“Affected manufacturers are required to immediately commence a nationwide recall of all alcoholic drinks packaged in sachets and PET bottles below 200ml from distributors, warehouses, and other points within the supply chain and submit to the agency for destruction,” she said.
Emphasising on reopening sealed factories, she said: ” NAFDAC imposed investigative charges on defaulting companies found to have violated regulatory directives relating to the manufacture and distribution of alcoholic beverages in prohibited package sizes.
The affected companies are required to settle the applicable charges within the stipulated period and comply fully with all regulatory directives issued by the Agency.
The Agency wishes to emphasize that all recalled alcoholic products shall be subjected to inventory verification and destruction under NAFDAC supervision in accordance with the terms of the enforcement undertaking. Manufacturers shall bear the full cost of such destruction exercises.
Furthermore, before any sealed facility involved in the production of alcoholic beverages in sachets or PET bottles below 200ml can be reopened, NAFDAC will require satisfactory evidence that the production lines used for the prohibited package sizes have been dismantled, permanently disabled, or reconfigured to prevent the manufacture and packaging of alcoholic products in sachets and PET bottles below 200ml.
Such dismantling or reconfiguration shall be carried out under the direct supervision and verification of NAFDAC officers.
The reopening and continued opening of any facility shall be subject to:Full compliance with the nationwide recall directive. Payment of all applicable investigative charges and regulatory fees.Successful destruction of recalled products under NAFDAC supervision. Verification of the dismantling, reconfiguration, or decommissioning of equipment used for prohibited package sizes.Satisfactory inspection and certification by NAFDAC that the facility is compliant with all regulatory requirements.”
Business
Cybercriminals cloning DStv, other brands to steal bank accounts across Africa
According to cybersecurity company NordVPN, the campaign distributes Remote Access Trojans (RATs) and banking trojans, forms of malware that can give criminals control over infected devices and access to sensitive information.
Cybercriminals are impersonating popular companies and government agencies across Africa in a campaign designed to take over smartphones and bank accounts.
More than 100 fake websites linked to the malware campaign have been identified since August 2025.
Brands including DStv, Takealot and South African Airways, as well as the South African Revenue Service (SARS), are being used to make fraudulent messages and websites appear legitimate.
According to cybersecurity company NordVPN, the campaign distributes Remote Access Trojans (RATs) and banking trojans, forms of malware that can give criminals control over infected devices and access to sensitive information.
The attacks are particularly concerning in South Africa, where Android dominates the mobile operating system market.
NordVPN said the attacks typically begin with social engineering, where criminals send convincing messages through SMS, WhatsApp or social media.
The messages may contain urgent offers or requests involving job opportunities, tax refunds, identity renewals or pension verification.
Victims are then directed to fake websites designed to closely resemble the official websites of trusted organisations.
The sites encourage users to download an Android application. Once installed, the malicious software can operate quietly in the background, including after the smartphone is restarted.
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