Business
NEPZA records $35bn capital investments in FTZs
In terms of employment generation, the Free Zones have generated over 100,000 direct and indirect jobs.
The Nigerian Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) disclosed that since the inception of Free Trade zones in the country in 1992 , it has attracted about $35 billion in capital investments.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NEPZA, Dr Olufemi Ogunyemi, disclosed this in Abuja during the launch of two books by former Director of NEPZA, Dr Chris Ndibe.
Noting that the scheme was introduced in 1992 to drive Nigeria’s economy toward growth and industrial development, Ogunyemi said “To date, NEPZA has licensed 63 Free Zones hosting over 900 Enterprises across the country, with a cumulative capital investment of about US$ 35 billion.
In terms of employment generation, the Free Zones have generated over 100,000 direct and indirect jobs.
“In export development, the scheme is performing relatively well in the services sector, including international catering, shipbuilding and repairs, oil and gas, and aviation management services,” said the NEPZA MD.
Also speaking, author of the books, “Reimagining Free Trade Zones in Nigeria” and “Accelerating Growing Economies Through Free Trade Zones, Dr Chris Ndibe, said that the books highlights the critical infrastructure, regulatory incentives, and logistics corridors required to scale local manufacturing, boost value-added exports, and attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into the regional market.
Ndibe emphasised that the books sought to stimulate dialogue among policymakers, regulators, investors, scholars and development practitioners on the future of free zones in Nigeria and Africa.
Business
Naira Exchange Rates To Foreign Currencies Tuesday, July 28
BLACK MARKET RATES
US DOLLAR (USD) Buy ₦1,405 Sell ₦1,410
GREAT BRITISH POUND (GBP) Buy ₦1,880Sell: ₦1,900
EURO (EUR) Buy ₦1,570 Sell ₦1,590
CANADIAN DOLLAR (CAD) Buy ₦1,020 Sell ₦1,080
SOUTH AFRICAN RAND (ZAR) Buy ₦75 Sell ₦90
UAE DIRHAM Buy ₦350 Sell ₦370 CHINESE YUAN Buy ₦190 Sell ₦205
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
AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR Buy ₦800 Sell ₦900
Commercial Bank Exchange Rates
Fidelity Bank
Currency Sell
USD / NGN ₦1375.00
GBP / NGN ₦1863.40
EUR / NGN ₦1596.10
Official CBN Exchange Rates
US DOLLAR (USD) ₦1,362. 21
GREAT BRITISH POUND (GBP) ₦1,814.05
EURO (EUR) ₦1,550.19
SWISS FRANC (CHF) ₦1,665.29
JAPANESE YEN (JPN) ₦8.32
CHINESE YUAN (CNY) ₦201. 32
WEST AFRICAN CFA (XOF) ₦2. 39
WEST AFRICAN UNIT ACCOUNT (WAUA) ₦1,867.90
SAUDI RIYAL (SAR) ₦362.87
SOUTH AFRICAN RAND (ZAR) ₦81.28
Business
IEA Cushions Global Oil Supply By 290 Million Barrels March -July
Ultimately, a full and unconditional reopening of the Strait of Hormuz remains essential to avoid a further deterioration in global energy security.
Image credit : IEA Oil Market Report
The International Energy Agency (IEA) said that its member countries had so far released 290 million barrels of oil available to the market.
IEA Executive Director, Dr Fatih Birol confirmed,in a statement posted on the website, Monday.
” Since the announcement on 11 March of the IEA collective action to make 400 million barrels of oil available to the market, around 290 million barrels have been released by IEA Member countries, with more continuing to flow to the market.”
Birol said that IEA countries still hold a substantial volume of emergency stocks in reserve, including over 1 billion barrels of government-controlled stocks.
He emphasised that, for the moment, crude oil and gas markets have continued to benefit from several cushioning factors.
These include significant supplies from Gulf producers – notably through major efforts by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates – that have continued to reach global markets via various routes. In addition, oil producers in other regions – notably the United States, Brazil, Venezuela and Kazakhstan – have increased exports, helping offset some of the supply losses.
On the demand side, China has played an important role in stabilising markets by reducing its crude oil imports by nearly 50% compared with pre-war levels. is closely monitoring the situation in oil markets following recent developments in the conflict in the Middle East – with the escalation in hostilities affecting the Strait of Hormuz and energy infrastructure in the region increasing security of supply concerns and casting greater uncertainty over the market outlook.
Threats to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, an increasingly important alternative shipping route for bypassing Hormuz, are adding to those concerns.
Dr Birol emphasised that there is no room for complacency on oil security amid the escalation in hostilities and drawing down of available commercial inventories.
Refinery activity and product supplies have not picked up as much as crude deliveries, meaning that markets for refined oil products, including diesel and gasoline, are considerably tighter than those for crude.
Ultimately, a full and unconditional reopening of the Strait of Hormuz remains essential to avoid a further deterioration in global energy security.
For natural gas, a large majority of the liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply lost due to the Hormuz disruptions has been offset by LNG flows from other markets, led by the United States.
But further delays in resuming Gulf exports risk keeping global LNG markets tighter for longer, Dr Birol warned.
Business
Nigerian Exchange Emerges Top In Africa By Dollar Values
By comparison, Zimbabwe Stock Exchange, trails Nigeria when returns are converted into dollars, underscoring how currency movements can significantly alter relative market standings from a global investment perspective.
The Nigerian equities market has emerged Africa’s strongest performer in U.S. dollar terms with a 68.2 percent Year- till-Date (YtD) return in the first seven months of 2026.
The bourse performance between January and July 24, 2026 outpaced other continental stock markets helped by investors confidence on the back of reforms by the Nigerian government.
The strong performance in dollar terms highlights the impact of exchange rate dynamics and renewed foreign portfolio participation.
By comparison, Zimbabwe Stock Exchange, trails Nigeria when returns are converted into dollars, underscoring how currency movements can significantly alter relative market standings from a global investment perspective.
Source: ThisDay
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