Business
Access Bank GMD Herbert Wigwe Assumes Office As Pioneer President of France Nigeria Business Council
The Pioneer President of the France Nigeria Business Council, Abdul Samad Rabiu, has handed over the reins of the council after a successful two year tenure to Herbert Wigwe, the Group Managing Director of Access Bank. Rabiu, the founder and Executive Chairman of BUA Group, handed over the reins to Wigwe in a ceremony held today, marking a new chapter in the Council’s history.
During Rabiu’s tenure as the pioneer President, the Council achieved significant milestones in strengthening business ties between France and Nigeria, promoting mutual growth and prosperity. Under his leadership, the Council organized two France-Nigeria Business Forums in Paris, a meeting in Lagos, and a session in Paris last year, which led to several fruitful partnerships between French and Nigerian businesses.
Rabiu also oversaw the Council’s support for various initiatives fostering collaboration between the brightest minds of both nations and nurturing the next generation of entrepreneurs.
In his farewell address, Rabiu expressed gratitude to the Council members, President Macron, and other stakeholders for their unwavering support during his tenure.
He acknowledged the exceptional service of Jean Haas, the Secretary of the Council, who will continue in his role under the new leadership.
The incoming President, Herbert Wigwe is a seasoned banker and a prominent figure in the Nigerian banking sector. Rabiu expressed confidence in Wigwe’s ability to lead the Council towards new heights, citing his vast experience and keen understanding of the global financial landscape as key assets.
As Wigwe begins his tenure, Council members have pledged their support and look forward to continued collaboration in fostering sustainable and inclusive economic growth for both France and Nigeria.
About the France Nigeria Business Council:
The France Nigeria Business Council is a key platform for strengthening business ties between France and Nigeria, with the aim of promoting mutual growth and prosperity. It serves as a nexus for collaboration, innovation, and partnership between the two nations, fostering an environment conducive to sustainable and inclusive economic growth.
Business
BUA Group Denies Reports of Bid to Acquire Stake in Kano Pillars Football Club
BUA Group has firmly dismissed online reports claiming that the conglomerate and its Chairman, Abdul Samad Rabiu, submitted a bid to acquire a 70% stake in Kano Pillars Football Club.
In a press statement issued on Tuesday, the company described the publication as inaccurate and misleading.
PRESS STATEMENT
Re: False Claims of Bid to Acquire Stake in Kano Pillars Football Club
Our attention has been drawn to an online publication suggesting that BUA Group and its Chairman, Abdul Samad Rabiu, have submitted a bid to acquire a 70% stake in Kano Pillars Football Club.
We would like to clarify that this report is inaccurate and does not reflect any position, action, or communication from BUA Group or Abdul Samad Rabiu. No such bid has been made, and there has been no engagement with any party on this matter.
We kindly request that this report be disregarded, and we encourage the public and members of the press to rely only on official statements issued through BUA Group’s verified channels for accurate information regarding our activities.
We appreciate the continued interest in BUA Group and thank the public for their understanding.
BUA Group reiterated its commitment to transparency and urged stakeholders to verify information through its official communication channels.

Business
Nigeria’s oil minister orders marketers to reduce fuel price
“While we believe that market forces will eventually restore equilibrium, the regulator also has a statutory responsibility to ensure that deregulation does not become an avenue for profiteering. This must be done in line with the extant provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act,”said Lokpobiri.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, at the NMDPRA General Counsel and Legal Advisers Forum, directed petroleum marketers to reduce fuel price .
At the two-day forum themed: “Beyond Compliance: Driving Regulatory Certainty and Investment Confidence in Nigeria’s Petroleum Sector, Lokpobiri noted that refiners and marketers have continued to sell petrol at elevated pump prices despite the significant decline in crude oil prices from a peak of $120 per barrel to about $72 per barrel last week.
He said: “Following de-escalation of tensions between Iran and the United States, we expected to see a commensurate downward adjustment in the prices of PMS and other petroleum products.However, that has not yet happened.”
“While we believe that market forces will eventually restore equilibrium, the regulator also has a statutory responsibility to ensure that deregulation does not become an avenue for profiteering. This must be done in line with the extant provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act,”said Lokpobiri.
Business
Naira Exchange Rates Tuesday, 30 June 2026
BLACK MARKET RATES
US DOLLAR (USD) ₦1, 390
GREAT BRITISH POUND (GBP) ₦1,855
EURO (EUR) ₦1, 585
BLACK MARKET RATES
US DOLLAR (USD) Buy ₦1, 390 Sell ₦1, 395
GREAT BRITISH POUND (GBP) Buy ₦1,855 Sell: ₦1,870
EURO (EUR) Buy ₦1, 585 Sell ₦1,605
CANADIAN DOLLAR (CAD) Buy ₦1,030 Sell ₦1,100
SOUTH AFRICAN RAND (ZAR) Buy ₦75 Sell ₦90
UAE DIRHAM Buy ₦350 Sell ₦370
CHINESE YUAN Buy ₦180 Sell ₦200
GHANA CEDI (GHS) Buy ₦95 Sell ₦110
WEST AFRICAN CFA Buy ₦2, 380 Sell ₦2, 460
CENTRAL AFRICAN CFA Buy ₦2, 220 Sell 2,300
AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR Buy ₦800 Sell ₦900
OFFICIAL CBN EXCHANGE RATES
US DOLLAR (USD) ₦1,383. 63
GREAT BRITISH POUND (GBP) ₦1,831.64
EURO (EUR) ₦1,578. 03
SWISS FRANC (CHF) ₦1,710.71
JAPANESE YEN (JPN) ₦8.55
CHINESE YUAN (CNY) ₦203. 65
WEST AFRICAN CFA (XOF) ₦2.40
WEST AFRICAN UNIT ACCOUNT (WAUA) ₦1,872. 07
SAUDI RIYAL (SAR) ₦368.43
SOUTH AFRICAN RAND (ZAR) ₦84.24
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